Charlene Blake

Charlene Blake, MD, PhD is a Clinical Professor in the Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Care at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF). She is affiliated with multiple UCSF campuses, including Mission Bay, Mount Zion, and Parnassus, and specializes in Adult Cardiac anesthesiology. Her dual training in medicine and genetics underscores her interdisciplinary approach to research and clinical practice.

• MD, Medical Scientist Training Program, Duke University School of Medicine (2010)
• PhD, Genetics and Genomics, Duke University Graduate School (2009)
• BA, Chemistry, Fisk University (2002)
• Cardiothoracic Anesthesiology Fellowship, Washington University in St. Louis (2015)
• Anesthesiology Residency, Washington University in St. Louis (2014)
• Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Champion Training, University of California (2018)

Dr. Blake's research lies at the intersection of molecular therapeutics and clinical anesthesiology, with a strong focus on RNA aptamers, antidote development, and drug safety. Her work explores the use of aptamers as reversible anticoagulants and their applications in stroke and hemorrhage. She also investigates pharmacogenomics, particularly CYP2D6 and metoprolol metabolism, and is deeply engaged in understanding and addressing ethnic disparities in medical training and inclusive medical technology design.

Her publications reflect a dual trajectory: one in translational molecular medicine, focusing on aptamer control and antidote systems, and another in health equity, examining microaggressions, diversity in anesthesiology, and the impact of skin pigmentation on medical devices. This combination highlights her commitment to both scientific innovation and social responsibility in medicine.

• Development of universal antidotes for aptamer therapeutics
• Reversible aptamers for stroke and hemorrhage
• PAI-1-specific aptamers in cancer metastasis
• Metoprolol pharmacokinetics and CYP2D6
• Ethnic disparities in fellowship training
• Inclusive design of light-based medical devices

Dr. Blake is actively involved in advancing diversity and inclusion in academic medicine, having completed formal training in this area and publishing on microaggressions and equity. Her research has been supported by NIH grants (e.g., R01 HL065222, U54 CA119347), and she collaborates with prominent scientists in nucleic acid therapeutics. She advises on clinical and translational research and contributes to policy discussions on equity in medical education and practice.

She is affiliated with research teams focused on aptamer-based therapeutics and health equity initiatives at UCSF, working within interdisciplinary labs that bridge molecular biology, anesthesiology, and public health. Her future work is likely to expand on personalized anticoagulation strategies and inclusive medical technologies.