معرفی
Hugh C. Hemmings is the Joseph F. Artusio, Jr. Professor and Chair of Anesthesiology, Professor of Pharmacology, and Senior Associate Dean for Research at Weill Cornell Medical College, and Anesthesiologist-in-Chief at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center. His academic appointments span the Department of Anesthesiology and Department of Pharmacology within the College of Medicine.
Dr. Hemmings' research focuses on synaptic mechanisms of general anesthetic action, particularly examining how anesthetics affect neurotransmitter release (glutamate, GABA, dopamine), interact with presynaptic proteins, and modulate ion channels. His laboratory investigates voltage-gated sodium channels as critical targets for anesthetic action, with recent work identifying specific binding sites for volatile anesthetics. The research combines biochemical, imaging, and electrophysiological approaches across multiple model systems from isolated nerve terminals to animal models.
His publication record shows a strong trend toward understanding anesthetic mechanisms at the molecular and synaptic levels, with recent work emphasizing the relationship between anesthetic action on sodium channels and neuronal signaling. The 2025 editorial series across multiple pain and anesthesiology journals highlights his leadership role in promoting scientific integrity within the field.
- Phi Beta Kappa (1977)
- Medical Scientist Training Program Fellowship (1978-1984)
- Foundation for Anesthesia Education and Research/BOC Anesthesiology Young Investigator Award (1992-1994)
- Cornell Scholar in Biomedical Sciences (1992-1996)
- Elected Fellow of the Royal College of Anaesthetists
- Member of the US National Academy of Medicine
Dr. Hemmings has secured significant research funding, including a $1.5 million NIH grant (2020-2025) as Principal Investigator for 'Synaptic Mechanisms of General Anesthetic Action' from the National Institute of General Medical Sciences. His lab actively recruits collaborators and trainees, with ongoing projects examining interneuron diversity, sodium channel-anesthetic interactions, and calcium dynamics in synaptic vesicle exocytosis.
The Hemmings and Platholi Labs operate at the intersection of neurophysiological and pathological actions of anesthetic agents, combining diverse approaches to enhance mechanism-based use of current anesthetic drugs and advance development of safer agents. Their collaborative work examines how anesthetic modulation of activity-dependent signaling molecules contributes to sustained actions on synaptic plasticity.
