Research Overview
Established in 2002, the Pediatric Anesthesiology Research Center (PARC) at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center is the only center in the world dedicated to advancing the specialty. The PARC is the research engine of the Department of Anesthesiology and has three goals:
- To discover the molecular, cellular, physiologic and clinical elements of pediatric anesthesia, pediatric pain medicine, and developmental neurobiology, and to translate these elements into clinical practice
- To develop the next generation of basic scientists and clinical researchers in the field of pediatric anesthesia, pain medicine and developmental neurobiology
- To lead the field of pediatric anesthesia, pediatric pain medicine and developmental neurobiology in the translation of research to clinical practice
The PARC presently focuses on three areas:
Developmental Neurobiology: investigates brain plasticity and brain cell death following drug exposure (neurotoxicity), hypoxic-ischemia events, epilepsy and other insults in immature systems. Mechanistic and translational oriented studies aim to prevent hypoxic-ischemic brain damage, drug induced injury, and seizures in critically ill infants, such as those with congenital heart disease, and to develop therapies to promote recovery (plasticity). Researchers are using infant animal models that simulate the clinical situation and apply molecular, cellular and behavioral techniques to study mechanisms and develop treatments.
Faculty Investigators: John McAuliffe, MD, Andreas Loepke, MD PhD, Dean Kurth, MD, Steve Danzer, PhD, George Istaphanous, MD, David Richards, PhD
Support staff: Raymond Pun, PhD, Jie Wang, PhD, John McCann, Bernadin Joseph, Beth Albers, Hulien Yin
Graduate students: Brian Murphy
Grants: NIH, Foundation Anesthesia Education and Research, Epilepsy FoundationClinical trials: evaluates the effectiveness of new drugs and devices in children receiving anesthesia, sedation, and pain management services. Researchers are developing technologies to evaluate tissue oxygenation and perfusion during surgery and in the intensive care unit after surgery to improve neurological outcome, reduce morbidity, and enhance survival. Researchers are also comparing anesthesia or sedation techniques on quality of care in children undergoing diagnostic tests in radiology and gastroenterology. Faculty are also studying pharmacogenetics and effectiveness of anesthetic and analgesic medicines after surgery.
Investigators: Senthil Sadhasivam, MD, Mohamed Mahmoud, MD, Joel Gunter, MD, Jim Spaeth, MD, Fay Jou, MD, Jon Tomasson, MD, Alex Szabova, MD, Mario Patino, MD, Vidya Chidambaran, MD, Todd Nick, PhD
Support staff: Eileen Beckman RN, Kristen Miller, Carolyn Menzie
Grants: Foundation Anesthesia Education Research, Corporate partnershipsHealth services: determines "best practice" on an organizational basis for children receiving anesthesia and pain management. Researchers are studying satisfaction, quality of care, and economic indicators of anesthesia pre-operative preparation processes in a large population of children.
Investigators: Anna Varughese, MD, Nancy Hagerman, MD, Terri Byczkowski, PhD
Support staff: Kristin Gorman
