IARS commits over $1M to anesthesia research to advance the specialty of anesthesiology

The International Anesthesia Research Society (IARS) announced 10 grant recipients in 2009, committing over $1 million to anesthesia research and other projects that will advance the specialty of anesthesiology. Grant recipients include researchers, clinicians and educators from around the world who have provided outstanding contributions to the anesthesia community.

The largest of the IARS grants, the Frontiers in Anesthesia Research Award, totaled $500,000 and is intended to foster innovation and creativity by an individual researcher in the anesthesiology field. The selection criteria included a high level of originality and scientific excellence, as well as potential for future leadership. In 2012 the IARS will increase the Frontiers Award to $750,000, escalating the Society's awards program to $1.3 million from the current $1 million level.

"Research grants at this level provide the resources needed to make real contributions to the scientific advancement and development of anesthesia," said 2009 Frontiers Award recipient C. Michael Crowder, MD, PhD of Washington University in St. Louis. "This grant will allow our team to conduct much needed genetic studies relating to hypoxic cell death, the most feared complication of anesthesia."

Among other notable IARS grants are the Teaching Recognition Awards, which are designed to recognize outstanding career contributions and extraordinary educational programs. Medge Owen, MD, of Wake Forest University, is a 2009 Teaching Recognition Award Recipient and has traveled extensively outside the US to promote global education in obstetric anesthesia and neonatal resuscitation. Most recently, Dr. Owen partnered with Ridge Hospital in Ghana, helping reduce the hospital's maternal and infant mortality rate by 20 percent.

"The goal of the IARS awards program is to support anesthesiology research on a national and international level. Our trust is that the IARS awards not only enhance the careers of our dedicated recipients, but also ultimately benefit patient care," said IARS Board of Trustees Chair Robert N. Sladen, MD. "We are inspired by the commitment of our awardees and eagerly anticipate their studies coming to fruition."