The Clinical Outcomes Research & Translational Excellence in Neuroanesthesia (CORTEX) Lab at UCSF investigates how anesthetic techniques, medications, and perioperative management can improve care for neurosurgical patients requiring dedicated neuroanesthesia. Our work focuses on awake and asleep craniotomy, deep brain stimulation, and emerging approaches to sedation and analgesia. We address practical questions about patient comfort, airway safety, hemodynamic stability, and the conditions needed for reliable intraoperative neurological assessment to achieve evidence-based, excellent care. We combine detailed institutional studies with multicenter research registries. By analyzing medication exposure, physiological measurements, and clinical events, we characterize practice variation and identify opportunities to improve care. Alongside this work, we explore novel approaches to neuroanesthesia that can inform future prospective studies. Our goal is to translate clinical observations into evidence that supports safer, more individualized anesthetic management and facilitate excellent outcomes.
