Kunal Sualy, MD, a pediatric anesthesiologist at Children’s Hospital & Medical Center, received a $50,000 grant from the Child Health Research Institute (CHRI) to study the effects of long-term opioid exposure on pre-term and term infants in respect to nervous system development and behavioral impairments later in life.
His grant proposal, titled "The Clinical Conundrum of Opioid Use in the NICU: Providing Comfort or Aggravating Development?" is notable because it is the first basic science grant awarded to a Department of Anesthesiology junior faculty member, it was awarded on its first submission, and it is Dr. Sualy’s first funded research.
"I’ve had an overwhelming amount of support from the department to guide me and help this project succeed," Dr. Sualy said. "Ultimately, we are hoping this research can help clinicians make informed decisions, and spark more basic science research in the department."
Dr. Sualy, who previously had little basic science research experience, is working closely with his mentor, Gurudutt Pendyala, PhD., associate professor and researcher in the Department of Anesthesiology.
The study will be completed using animal models in Dr. Pendyala’s laboratory, and facilitated by lab staff, Sneh Koul, Research Technologist I, Sneham Tiwari, PhD, postdoctoral research associate,Vicki Schaal, research coordinator, and medical students Alex Schmitz and Colton Roessner.
"With this grant, Dr. Sualy has forayed into a very select bracket of clinical faculty also conducting basic science research," said Dr. Pendyala. "Hopefully this success in our department will attract more clinicians to follow suit."
Dr. Sualy hopes to eventually become a more independent clinical researcher, and include more medical students and trainees in his future research. He envisions a lab where other clinicians can pose their own clinical questions and utilize the lab to find answers. He enjoys mentoring and education, and hopes to someday provide the same opportunities he is currently being granted.
"None of this would be possible without Dr. Pendyala and his staff," Dr. Sualy said. "I have a lot of gratitude for Sneh, Vicki and Dr. Tiwari for the guidance they have provided to me, and to Dr. Shukry for providing the opportunity to pursue this research."
Mohanad Shukry, MD, PhD, is the executive vice chair of the Department of Anesthesiology and a pediatric anesthesiologist.
The CHRI is an innovative partnership between UNMC and Children’s Hospital & Medical Center that was established in 2017. To learn more about CHRI grants, visit: https://www.unmc.edu/chri/research/pilot-grants.html.
Dr. Sualy to study long-term opioid effects on newborn brain
