Dr. Umeshkumar Athiraman graduated from Stanley Medical College in India. After a fellowship in Neuroanesthesia at the University of Washington in Seattle he joined the Department of Anesthesiology at Washington University in Saint Louis, MO, in 2015 where he is an Associate Professor and Director of Neuroanesthesia. He is also the program director for the Neuroanesthesia fellowship. Dr. Athiraman’s laboratory research is focused on identifying the molecular targets for the treatment of complications of SAH. His expertise in the field of Neuroanesthesiology together with his scientific background, make him pose to find the modalities for prevention which he hopes to one day apply to brain aneurysm patients.

Please tell us your background, where you are from, schooling, etc.

I graduated with a medical degree from Stanley Medical College in India. After medical school, I completed a post-doctoral research fellowship at Boston Children’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, which was followed by an anesthesiology residency in India and a clinical fellowship in Neuroanesthesia at the University of Washington in Seattle. Soon after, I joined the Department of Anesthesiology at Washington University in Saint Louis, MO, where I am the Director of Neuroanesthesia and the program director for the Neuroanesthesia fellowship.

What led you to become involved with brain aneurysm research?

I am actively involved in neuroscience research for several years and as a neuroanesthesiologist, I provide anesthetic care for aneurysmal subarachnoid patients on a regular basis. I have seen several devastating complications in these patients and I want to make some difference in these patients care. 

In the simplest terms, what is the purpose of your project?

The goal of our project is to identify the molecular targets for the treatment of the devastating complications after SAH. 

In the simplest terms, what do you hope will change through your research findings?

We are hoping to find better targets for treating the complications after SAH. 

Why is the funding you are receiving through the Brain Aneurysm Foundation so important?

It is extremely important for us to get the grants to work on our projects. Brain aneurysm foundation funds will help us significantly to generate pilot data which will help us to apply for the larger grants.