PhD awarded - Dr Steven McGuigan

We congratulate Dr Steven McGuigan on the successful completion of his PhD thesis "Identifying the cellular and network level mechanisms responsible for xenon anaesthesia and neuroprotection".

Dr McGuigan's PhD aims to enhance our understanding of anaesthetic neuronal injury and neuroprotection of xenon anaesthesia.

Abstract:

The mechanisms underlying anaesthetic-related neural injury, neuroprotection and general anaesthesia remain unresolved. The aim of this research was to identify clinically relevant cellular and network level mechanisms of xenon anesthesia and neuroprotection. We utilized neural injury biomarkers, electroencephalogram analysis and computational modelling of neurons in a clinical and volunteer cohort receiving xenon anaesthesia. We identified unique spectral features in the electroencephalogram during xenon administration with implications for monitoring of xenon anaesthesia. We also identified, through modelling, likely cellular level mechanisms of xenon that are consistent with electroencephalogram features observed during its administration.