I am interested in the effects of anaesthetic drugs, particularly inhalational anaesthetics, on developing brain. Millions of fetuses, neonates and young children are exposed to anaesthetic drugs for surgery every year and clinical evidence suggests there is a small risk of detriment to long-term neurodevelopment, increased with longer cumulative exposure and earlier exposure. 

Laboratory studies in immature rodents, pigs and non-human primates have shown an association between exposure to commonly used anaesthetic drugs and widespread increased apoptosis in the brain: this has also been associated with detrimental effects on neuro-behaviourial outcomes in rodents. Xenon, a noble gas, with anaesthetic properties has been shown to prevent apoptosis induced by isoflurane, a commonly used inhalational anaesthetic in immature rodent brain.

I am interested in studying the effects of mixtures of xenon and common inhalational anaesthetic in immature rodent models of anaesthesia and in human infants undergoing surgery, in particular, to establish methods to optimise translation between the two settings.