Frontiers in Anesthesia Research Award

The Frontiers in Anesthesia Research Award (FARA) is granted triennially and is the largest IARS research grant. The FARA fosters innovation and creativity by an individual investigator, funding projects with significant originality and scientific excellence. Projects must have direct relevance to anesthesiology and play a critical role in the scientific evolution of a novel concept. Applicants must demonstrate commitment to research and the potential for leadership.

IARS 2021 Frontiers in Anesthesia Research Award (FARA) – Application period is now closed.

The next FARA grant cycle will begin in late 2023 with a due date in early 2024. Keep an eye on our website for more details.

You may contact [email protected] if you require additional information

Competitive applications for the FARA grant must address one of the following areas of research:

  • Fundamental Neuroscience Unknowns
  • Immune, Inflammatory, and Metabolic Consequences of Trauma, Surgery, and Critical Care
  • Best Use of Systems-Based Practice to Enhance Patient Safety and Quality

For specific examples of the aforementioned research areas, see our Key Research Questions. Please contact [email protected] with any questions or if you would like additional information.

Past Recipients


Wayland Cheng, MD, PhD
Structural Pharmacology of the Nociceptive Ion Channel TRPM3
Assistant Professor, Anesthesiology
Washington University in St. Louis
Saint Louis MO

Read abstract
Read article

Wei Chao, MD, PhD, FAHA
Extracellular RNA, inflammation, and sepsis
The Dean’s Endowed Professor in Anesthesiology
Vice-Chair for Translational Research, Department of Anesthesiology
Associate Director, Shock Trauma Anesthesiology Research Center
University of Maryland School of Medicine
Baltimore, MD

Judith Hellman, MD
Endothelial inflammatory pathways in septic vasculopathy and organ injury
Professor, Department of Anesthesia and Perioperative Care
Vice Chair for Research, Department of Anesthesia and Perioperative Care
University of California, San Francisco
San Francisco, California

Ansgar Brambrink, MD, PhD
Long-Term Outcome of Single vs. Triple Anesthesia Exposure of Infant Monkeys
Chair of the Department of Anesthesiology, Columbia University College of Physicians & Surgeons
Anesthesiologist-in-Chief, New York-Presbyterian/Columbia University Medical Center

C. Michael Crowder, MD, PhD
Cellular and Molecular Mechanisms of Hypoxic and Anesthetic Preconditioning
During Award Period
Associate Professor Department of Anesthesiology
Washington University, St. Louis
St. Louis, Missouri
Current Position
Chair, Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine
Alan J. Treuer Endowed Professorship, Anesthesiology
University of Washington School of Medicine
Seattle, Washington

Zhiyi Zuo, MD, PhD
Neuroprotection by RNA Interference-Produced Autoregulation of Inducible Nitric Oxide Synthase Expression
Associate Professor of Anesthesia Department of Anesthesiology
University of Virginia Health System
Charlottesville, Virginia
Michael Zaugg, MD, DEAA
Functional Genomics of Anesthetic Protection in Human Myocardium
Head of the Anesthesia Research Laboratory Institute of Anesthesiology
University of Zurich
Zurich, Switzerland
Steven A. Deem, MD
Hemoglobin, Nitric Oxide, and the Pulmonary Circulation
Associate Professor Department of Anesthesiology
University of Washington
Seattle, Washington
Mark A. Schumacher, PhD, MD
Stretch-Inactivated Channels in Pain Transduction
Assistant Professor School of Medicine Department of Anesthesia and Perioperative Care
University of California, San Francisco
San Francisco, California
Michael Schäfer, MD
Regulatory Mechanisms Of Peripheral Opioid Analgesia
Assistant Professor Freie Universität Berlin University Hospital Benjamin Franklin
Berlin, Germany
Rona G. Giffard, PhD, MD
Gene Therapy Of Ischemic Brain Injury: New Mechanisms Of Protection By BCL-2>
Assistant Professor
Stanford University School of Medicine
Palo Alto, California
Beverley A. Orser, MD, FRCPC, PhD
Anaesthetics, Second Messenger Systems And Ligand-gated Receptors
Assistant Professor
University of Toronto
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
2021

Wayland Cheng, MD, PhD Structural Pharmacology of the Nociceptive Ion Channel TRPM3 Assistant Professor, Anesthesiology Washington University in St. Louis Saint Louis MO

Read abstract
Read article

2018

Wei Chao, MD, PhD, FAHA
Extracellular RNA, inflammation, and sepsis
The Dean’s Endowed Professor in Anesthesiology
Vice-Chair for Translational Research, Department of Anesthesiology
Associate Director, Shock Trauma Anesthesiology Research Center
University of Maryland School of Medicine
Baltimore, MD

2015

Judith Hellman, MD
Endothelial inflammatory pathways in septic vasculopathy and organ injury
Professor, Department of Anesthesia and Perioperative Care
Vice Chair for Research, Department of Anesthesia and Perioperative Care
University of California, San Francisco
San Francisco, California

2012

Ansgar Brambrink, MD, PhD
Long-Term Outcome of Single vs. Triple Anesthesia Exposure of Infant Monkeys
Chair of the Department of Anesthesiology, Columbia University College of Physicians & Surgeons
Anesthesiologist-in-Chief, New York-Presbyterian/Columbia University Medical Center

2009

C. Michael Crowder, MD, PhD
Cellular and Molecular Mechanisms of Hypoxic and Anesthetic Preconditioning
During Award Period
Associate Professor Department of Anesthesiology
Washington University, St. Louis
St. Louis, Missouri
Current Position
Chair, Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine
Alan J. Treuer Endowed Professorship, Anesthesiology
University of Washington School of Medicine
Seattle, Washington

2007
Zhiyi Zuo, MD, PhD
Neuroprotection by RNA Interference-Produced Autoregulation of Inducible Nitric Oxide Synthase Expression
Associate Professor of Anesthesia Department of Anesthesiology
University of Virginia Health System
Charlottesville, Virginia
2005
Michael Zaugg, MD, DEAA
Functional Genomics of Anesthetic Protection in Human Myocardium
Head of the Anesthesia Research Laboratory Institute of Anesthesiology
University of Zurich
Zurich, Switzerland
2003
Steven A. Deem, MD
Hemoglobin, Nitric Oxide, and the Pulmonary Circulation
Associate Professor Department of Anesthesiology
University of Washington
Seattle, Washington
2001
Mark A. Schumacher, PhD, MD
Stretch-Inactivated Channels in Pain Transduction
Assistant Professor School of Medicine Department of Anesthesia and Perioperative Care
University of California, San Francisco
San Francisco, California
1999
Michael Schäfer, MD
Regulatory Mechanisms Of Peripheral Opioid Analgesia
Assistant Professor Freie Universität Berlin University Hospital Benjamin Franklin
Berlin, Germany
1997
Rona G. Giffard, PhD, MD
Gene Therapy Of Ischemic Brain Injury: New Mechanisms Of Protection By BCL-2>
Assistant Professor
Stanford University School of Medicine
Palo Alto, California
1995
Beverley A. Orser, MD, FRCPC, PhD
Anaesthetics, Second Messenger Systems And Ligand-gated Receptors
Assistant Professor
University of Toronto
Toronto, Ontario, Canada

IMRA Awards

This award is intended to support investigations that will further the understanding of clinical practice in anesthesiology and related sciences. Up to four research projects are selected annually, with a maximum award of $175,000 each, payable over two years.

IMPACT Awards

This award was developed by a consortium of academic anesthesiology organizations with the goal of supporting the development of proposals for pragmatic clinical trials by anesthesiology investigators for submission to external funding sources, such as the NIH.

Abstract Awards

IARS abstract submitters to the Annual Meeting are eligible for multiple awards.

Support IARS

The IARS contributes more than $1 million each year to fund important anesthesia research. Your donation will help support innovative and forward-thinking anesthesia research and education initiatives, all of which are designed to benefit patient care. You can feel good knowing that 100% of your donation is directly allocated to research.

Donate Today