Obituary: William D. Owens, MD, professor emeritus of anesthesiology, 85 (Links to an external site)
William D. Owens, MD, former head of the Department of Anesthesiology at WashU Medicine, passed away on Jan. 3, 2025, at the age of 85. A pioneer in clinical outcomes research and anesthesia education, he significantly advanced the field through his leadership, mentorship, and contributions to critical care and pain management.
Female sex hormone protects against opioid misuse, rat study finds (Links to an external site)
According to a new study by WashU Medicine researchers, male and female rats with chronic pain release different dopamine levels after fentanyl due to sex hormones, which may explain higher opioid use and overdose rates in men.
Abraham to direct I2DB’s Center for Applied Health Informatics (Links to an external site)
Dr. Joanna Abraham was recently appointed as the new Director of the Center for Applied Health Informatics (CAHI) in I2DB at WashU Medicine.
Compound harnesses cannabis’ pain-relieving properties without side effects (Links to an external site)
Researchers at WashU Medicine and Stanford University developed a compound that relieves pain in mice but doesn’t affect the brain, avoiding side effects and abuse potential. The molecule, derived from cannabis, may provide an alternative to opioids for treating chronic pain.
WashU Medicine’s Department of Anesthesiology ranked No. 1 in NIH funding with over $31M in funding
The Department of Anesthesiology at WashU Medicine ranked No. 1 nationwide among anesthesiology departments in funding from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), according to the 2024 Blue Ridge Institute for Medical Research (BRIMR) rankings.