Acute Brain Injury
The acute brain injury research program of the University of Cambridge Division of Anaesthesia has aimed to understand regional cerebral pathophysiology to advance the care of critically ill patients after brain injury, from initial ictus, through recovery from coma and rehabilitation, to final outcome. These aims have been realized through a series of MRC Program and Cooperative Group Grants, based in the Wolfson Brain Imaging Centre (WBIC), which have formed a focus for productive collaboration with other departments in the Clinical School, and the broader neuroscience community in Cambridge. Substantial academic leadership for this research program has come from the Division of Anaesthesia, but key collaborations have included NHS colleagues in the Neurocritical Care Unit, the University Departments of Neurosurgery, Psychiatry, and the MRC Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit.
CamPAIN
Pain research conducted within the Division of Anaesthesia investigates the peripheral and central mechanisms contributing to persistent pain in patients, utilising research methods that include quantitative sensory testing, electrophysiology and neuroimaging. We undertake deep phenotyping of experimentally induced and clinical pain state to investigate the genetic and neurobiological bases of susceptibility and resilience to persistent pain.
Consciousness and Cognition
The aim of the Consciousness and Cognition group is twofold. We investigate both the neural basis of consciousness and the neural basis for poor cognitive outcome following traumatic brain injury.
Critical Care Biology
The Critical Care Research Group aims to elucidate the mechanisms underlying development of conditions occurring in the critically ill such as sepsis, shock, nosocomial infection and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). The Group is using a variety of approaches to address their research questions including advanced microscopy, flow and mass cytometry, live-cell imaging, ‘omics and human/animal disease models. These scientific techniques complement the Group’s programme of human experimental medicine and early-phase clinical studies.
Global Health
In collaboration with the NIHR Global Health Research Group on Neurotrauma and others we are working to understand how to improve the provision of perioperative care in resource-poor environments.
Health Systems Engineering
In collaboration with the Healthcare Design Group based in the Department of Engineering this group aims to explore how application of a systems approach can drive improvement in Anaesthesia and Perioperative medicine.
Physiology in Critical Illness
The Physiology in Critical Illness Group carries out a wide range of research into physiological processes related mainly to acute cardiorespiratory illness. We are interested in the experimental study, application and mathematical modelling of physiology in the critically ill.
Read more
Perioperative Research
The perioperative research group is conducting multiple projects focusing on pre-operative risk stratification, large scale data analysis, critical care outreach, and assessment of post-operative outcome.