Research

Residency Training Information - Research Opportunities

The Department of Anesthesiology at NYU School of Medicine is putting a renewed emphasis on research and academic activities. The development of an academic department and academic anesthesiologists requires a strong commitment to both basic and clinical research and the availability of enthusiastic mentors. Opportunities for research for residents and fellows are available and residents are encouraged to become involved early in their residency to begin to define an area of interest upon which they can build their academic career.

Clinical Research

Active protocols exist for both investigator initiated and sponsor initiated research. An NIH supported investigation under the direction of Charles Beattie, PhD, MD, of the effect of beta blockade on outcome in the elderly undergoing major abdominal surgery is ongoing. Alex Bekker PhD, MD, Director of neuro-anesthesia and Director of Clinical Trials is evaluating dexmedetomidine (recently introduced sedative) in functional neurosurgery, the use of remifentanil (ultra-short acting opioid) to improve recovery after surgery in the elderly, and an assessment of new analgesic in neurosurgical patients. Members of the neuro-anesthesiology group have also participated in the development of the BIS monitor – a device to measure depth of sedation.

As a member of McSPI (Multicenter Study of Perioperative Ischemia) we were a principal investigator in the Epi-I and Epi-II cardiac outcomes studies, two major epidemiological studies of patients undergoing cardiac surgery developed by Ischemia Research and Education Foundation (IREF). Epi-II is a complex, global, multicenter study internally funded by IREF and the largest of its kind ever undertaken. For each of these comprehensive studies, IREF systematically collects and critically evaluates adverse outcomes, patient risk profiles and concomitant therapies. This data provides up-to-the-minute answers to questions relevant to clinical trial design.

The cardiac anesthesia group is actively involved in clinical trials and is a member of several major academic clinical research organizations. We are members of GPRO (Global Perioperative Research Organization), a strategic collaboration between the (IARS) International Anesthesia Research Society and the (DCRI) Duke Clinical Research Institute. We are dedicated to answering important medical questions and providing unbiased data and aiding in interpretation of these results. We have been associated with DCRI and GPRO for several years now, and will continue to collaborate in the future. The Cardiac anesthesia group is also a member of Gentiae Clinical Research Inc., which specializes in the design and management of knowledge-based clinical trials for cardiovascular drugs and devices in all phases of development. Through our comprehensive clinical services, access to EPI-1 and EPI-2 epidemiological databases, and affiliation with the McSPI Research Group, we aid them worldwide with multicenter clinical studies focused on phase 2 and 3 clinical trials. Our involvement with various research organizations, as well as collaboration with the Division of Cardiac Surgery here at NYU, offers fellows and resident many research opportunities for all levels of junior clinical scientists.

In the realm of translational research, Gilbert Grant, MD, is developing a simple, effective, and reliable means of providing analgesia for patients who have pain after surgery, trauma, and medical procedures, using liposomes, which are biocompatible drug delivery vehicles. Various analgesics, including opioids, local anesthetics and cholinesterase inhibitors, have been encapsulated within liposomes. The liposomes act as a slow-release vehicle for the entrapped analgesics, thus providing prolonged and effective analgesia with a single administration. Dr. Grant's other clinical research is focused on improving methods of providing pain relief for childbirth that are safe and effective for mother and baby. To this end, many clinical studies are planned for 2004, including: 1) the efficacy of COX-2 inhibitors to potentiate postoperative patient-controlled epidural analgesia, 2) the effect of benzodiazepines administered during the intrapartum period on the neonate, 3) the reliability of the gravity loading versus bolus injection for labor epidurals, 4) the efficacy of clonidine to provide labor analgesia while minimizing maternal motor block, and 5) the efficacy of various modes of patient controlled epidural analgesia for labor compared to continuous infusion techniques.

New investigations are continually submitted for IRB approval and residents are encouraged to participate along with a faculty mentor in protocol development and submission.