Research
The Department of Anesthesiology at the University of Minnesota has a long-standing tradition of impactful research and a deep commitment to advancing medicine across clinical research, data-driven quality improvement, basic and translational science, and medical education.
Our research portfolio continues to grow in both scope and impact. We have built a robust infrastructure to support investigators at every stage, including dedicated research coordinators, grants management specialists, data analysts, and statistical support. This collaborative framework enables our faculty and trainees to pursue innovative questions that improve patient care, advance scientific discovery, and shape the future of anesthesiology.
Our basic science research drives fundamental discoveries in mechanisms of anesthesia, pain pathways, and brain health. We leverage cutting-edge science to pioneer transformative medical breakthroughs for future clinical care.
We translate research innovations into high-impact clinical practice. Through rigorous clinical trials and multidisciplinary studies, our research team elevates patient outcomes, refines perioperative standards, and shapes the future of care.
We offer extensive opportunities for medical students to dive into groundbreaking research. Trainees work alongside leading faculty, gaining hands-on skill development, invaluable clinical insights, and premier academic mentorship.
Quality Improvement
Quality improvement serves as a core pillar connecting clinical research with bedside patient care. We believe that exceptional anesthesia care requires continuous measurement, evaluation, and innovation. Our faculty, fellows, and residents lead dedicated QI initiatives designed to refine clinical workflows, minimize perioperative risk, and establish rigorous benchmarks for patient safety across all surgical specialties.
Our department actively leverages clinical data analytics, implementation science, and multidisciplinary collaboration to translate real-world outcomes into actionable improvements. From optimizing ERAS (Enhanced Recovery After Surgery) protocols to pioneering novel airway management procedures, our projects generate key clinical insights that directly elevate the standard of care provided across our health system.
Recent Publications
Designing a Cardiac Arrest System That Includes Extracorporeal Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation: A Contemporary Review
Dr. Adam Gottula | Journal of the American Heart Association
Patient-Centered Anaesthesia and the Safe Brain Initiative
Dr. Finn Radtke | Anästhesiol Intensivmed Notfallmed Schmerzther
Heparin Dose-Response Curve for Heparin Dose Determination During Cardiopulmonary Bypass for Pediatric Cardiac Surgery: A Prospective Randomized Controlled Study
Dr. Arindam Choudhury | Journal of Cardiothoracic and Vascular Anesthesia
Focus on the Brain Under Anesthesia: The Safe Brain Initiative’s EEG Bootcamp
Dr. Finn Radtke | Anästhesiol Intensivmed Notfallmed Schmerzther
Cold and Room-Temperature Platelets in Cardiac Surgery: The CHIPS Randomized Clinical Trial
Dr. Daniel Lotz | JAMA
The Age of Therapeutic Disruption: How Future Anaesthesiologists Will Judge Our Current Peri-Operative Practice
Drs. Vanessa Moll & Finn Radtke | European Journal of Anaesthesiology
Living Donor Liver Transplantation Versus Donation After Circulatory Death in the Era of Normothermic Machine Perfusion: Insights From a National Cohort
Dr. Vinh Nguyen | Surgery
Device Performance During Simulated Emergency Infant Oropharyngeal Contamination: Effects of Airway Anatomy and Fluid Consistency
Drs. Ravi Jindal & Kumar Belani | Children
Michael Todd, MD
Vice Chair of Research
[email protected]
Candace Nelson
Clinical Research Manager
[email protected]