We are excited to announce the winners of this year’s Department of Anesthesiology Research Opportunity Fund award.
Sylvain Doré, Ph.D., FAHA, was awarded $3,000 to cover the cost of mice and reagents for a study titled “To investigate the efficacy and mechanism of a brain penetrant iron chelator in intracranial hemorrhage (ICH).” The study will examine whether the brain penetrant iron chelator HBED has a potent therapeutic value after an acute event causing intracranial bleeding and iron toxicity. Intracranial bleeding is one of the most devastating forms of hemorrhagic stroke in the U.S., with up to 65% mortality.
Basma Mohamed, MBChB, was awarded $9,100 to purchase nutritional protein shakes for the intervention group in a study titled “Does prehabilitation improve outcomes in patients undergoing lumbar spine fusion surgery?” The randomized controlled trial will evaluate whether a novel prehabilitation method improves preoperative functional status of frail patients with spine disease and improves their postsurgical recovery time. The prehabilitation program focuses on preoperative physical therapy, nutritional intervention in the form of additional protein shakes, and preoperative cognitive behavioral therapy.
The Research Opportunity Funds are intended to be used for supplies and other research-related expenses. The department chose to fund these projects in the hope that publications will result from this research and that they may develop into larger research projects.
Congratulations, Drs. Doré and Mohamed!