Dr. Tiffany Rice

My current research focuses include anesthetic neurotoxicity in the pediatric population and pediatric chronic pain, with a specific emphasis on the role of the immune system and inflammation. 

Firstly, I am interested in the potential neurotoxic effects of anesthetic agents on the developing human brain. From a mechanistic perspective, I would like to determine:

• How the immune system interacts with the nervous system in response to anesthetic and analgesic agents.
• If there are specific inflammatory mediators that contribute to the possible detrimental effects that these medications have on the developing brain. 
• If these inflammatory factors can be modulated to alter the neuronal response.
• If certain anesthetic and analgesic drugs are more detrimental than others and whether there are some that may offer a neuroprotective effect. 

Secondly, I would like to gain a better understanding of what factors influence the pain trajectories of pediatric patients, specifically in the perioperative setting.  I would like to determine if and how the immune system influences the development of chronic postsurgical pain in certain patients. Ultimately, this work may facilitate the identification and implementation of novel preventative or therapeutic approaches for children at risk for persistent postsurgical pain.