Dr. Roderic Eckenhoff, Professor of Anesthesia, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine
Dr. Roderic Eckenhoff is the Austin Lamont Professor of Anesthesia at the University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine. His primary area of research has been the molecular pharmacology of general anesthetics. Dr. Eckenhoff and his team have been NIH-funded for almost 35 years. This team has provided considerable evidence for the molecular targets and mechanisms underlying the magic of general anesthesia.
This research also led to new hypotheses linking neurodegeneration and anesthetics. This is an area that has blossomed into new funding streams from NIA, and a large international group of over 100 scientists and physicians that meet and collaborate regularly. Currently, evidence indicates that anesthetics are fairly benign contributors to post-operative neurocognitive disorders. So the importance of superimposed neuroinflammation in the setting of a vulnerable brain has become very clear.
Dr. Eckenhoff was previous chair of the ISTAART Professional Interest Area on Perioperative Cognition and Delirium. In addition, he participated in the perioperative neurocognitive disorders nomenclature initiative and led the development of a recent white paper on preclinical models of delirium. His passion for mentorship and faculty development has led to his appointment as Assistant Dean for Faculty Affairs at the Perelman School of Medicine.