We are thrilled to announce the inaugural recipients of our department's Strategic Pilot Awards for Research and Knowledge Development (SPARK) Innovation Grant — Duke Anesthesiology’s newest investment in innovation, providing targeted seed funding to ignite promising ideas that bridge science, data and patient care.
After a competitive review process, our peer advisory panel has chosen projects that embody the forward-thinking spirit of our department.
Please join us in congratulating:
PI: Dr. Keith Van Dusen
Project Title: AI-guided Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial of Phenobarbital for Agitated Delirium
Funding Awarded: $10,000
PI: Dr. Ruba Sajdeya
Project Title: Variability in Anesthesia and Pain Sensitivity in Individuals with Chronic Cannabis Use
Funding Awarded: $9,976
These pilot grants support projects with strong clinical or translational potential, helping investigators generate early data, refine study design and build a foundation for sustainable external funding or clinical implementation.
We look forward to the impact these initiatives will have on our academic community, bridging the gap between discovery and clinical application to ultimately transform patient care.