Richard  A. Jaffe

My clinical and laboratory research activities are currently focused on developing new and sensitive means for detecting the onset of cerebral ischemia using both non-invasive electrophysiological and non-invasive optical techniques. The goal of this research is to provide new monitoring techniques to guide the clinical management of patients in which cerebral perfusion may be compromised.

Other laboratory research activities are focused on developing an understanding of the mechanisms which underlie differential nerve block, and on identifying the sites of local anesthetic and opiate action within the spinal cord. The objective is to enable clinicians to provide regional analgesia without the many unwanted side effects of opiates and conventional local anesthetics. Achieving this goal could substantially improve pain management techniques and the practice of regional anesthesia.