Dr. Christina Boncyk Awarded FAER Mentored Research Training Grant Co-funded by SAAAPM

June 24, 2020

The Foundation for Anesthesia Education and Research (FAER) appreciates the generous support of the Society of Academic Associations of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine (SAAAPM) Council in co-funding a Mentored Research Training Grant (MRTG) in 2020. FAER has awarded this co-funded MRTG to Christina Boncyk, MD, Assistant Professor of Anesthesiology Critical Care Medicine at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. Her grant is titled The Impact of Increased Prescribing on ICU Survivors.

“The Society of Academic Associations of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine (SAAAPM) is excited to continue its commitment to help fund a FAER Mentored Research Training Grant,” said Ronald Pearl, MD, PhD, SAAAPM President. “The FAER MRTG is designed to develop the early careers of physician-scientists and advance the science of anesthesiology, two of the core missions of SAAAPM. Dr. Boncyk’s study will help improve the quality of life of patients after ICU discharge, an issue of increased importance during the COVID-10 pandemic.”

MRTGs help physician-scientists develop the skills, preliminary data for subsequent grant applications, and research publications needed to become independent investigators. These grants are eligible to faculty members who have completed their core anesthesiology residency training within the past 10 years and are comprised of $250,000 in funding over a two-year period.

“We are excited that the SAAAPM Council has once again joined with FAER in 2020 to co-fund a Mentored Research Training Grant (MRTG),” said James Eisenach, MD, FAER President and CEO. “The importance of research to anesthesiology cannot be overstated. So, it follows that supporting our early career physician-scientists, like Dr. Boncyk, is fundamental to our specialty continuing to thrive. MRTGs represent a potent boon to such outstanding investigators, aiding them in their pursuit of anesthesia research and eventual transition to independence. Support like that generously offered by SAAAPM will help FAER continue to foster investigators whose work will help shape the future of anesthesiology.”

Dr. Boncyk was gracious enough to respond to a selection of questions about this grant and the research she will conduct through it. We are pleased to share her responses with you below.

What value do you see in organizations like FAER and SAAAPM coming together in support of anesthesia research and those who conduct it?

“As an early career physician-scientist within the field of anesthesiology, support by FAER and SAAAPM is exceptionally valuable on my path to becoming an independent investigator. The time and support afforded by this grant will allow me to accomplish my research goals efficiently and lead to future interventional studies aimed at improving the way we care for patients. Conducting these studies within research communities of anesthesiologists and experts in perioperative medicine will provide avenues for collaboration, development, and advancement in patient care in the perioperative setting and following critical illness.”

What led you to pursue anesthesiology as a specialty, and what led you to pursue anesthesia research?

“I was drawn to anesthesiology because I love the constant calibration of anatomy, physiology, and pharmacology data required to care for patients. Understanding how these aspects change throughout surgery, illness and hospitalization led to my interest in critical care medicine and anesthesia research. I enjoy caring for complex patients clinically while focusing my research on investigating ways to optimize their care to improve outcomes during hospitalization and following hospital discharge.”

What is the research you will conduct through your Mentored Research Training Grant?

“Intensive care unit (ICU) patients are regularly exposed to centrally acting medications to treat anxiety, pain, delirium, and other disorders that are then frequently continued past their acute indication and following hospital discharge. These medications are associated with cognitive impairment, physical disability, and mortality in older, non-hospitalized adults—a population at increased risk for experiencing medication side-effects or adverse events due to increased comorbid disease, decreased physiologic reserve, and impaired drug metabolism. These same features, however, are also common in both young and old ICU survivors. Given the high incidence of long-term cognitive impairment and physical disability following critical illness, we aim to investigate whether this increased medication burden is independently associated worsen long-term outcomes among ICU survivors.”

Do you have any advice for others interested in pursuing anesthesia research and FAER grant funding?

“My biggest piece of advice would be to identify a strong mentor and mentorship committee to support you and your research. My mentor, Christopher Hughes, MD, MS, and mentorship committee have been invaluable in supporting my research goals. Our regular meetings and interactions have aided in defining my research questions, identifying areas of weakness to improve, and constructing research plans all while providing encouragement and holding me accountable to stay on track. Having a strong support team is great to both navigate shortfalls and celebrate accomplishments together.”

THE FOUNDATION FOR ANESTHESIA EDUCATION AND RESEARCH (FAER)

FAER is a related organization of the American Society of Anesthesiologists. For over 30 years, FAER has been dedicated to developing the next generation of physician-scientists in anesthesiology. Charitable contributions and support to FAER help fuel the future of anesthesiology through scientific discovery. Funding priorities include: Research, Education, and Training. FAER has awarded over $45 million in research grants and programs since 1986. To donate to FAER, visit FAER.org/donate.