Juan P Cata

Dr. Juan P Cata is a Tenure Track Associate Professor and Principal Investigator in the Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. He leads the Cata Laboratory and founded the Anesthesiology and Surgical Oncology Research Group in 2014. His career path includes clinical training in Argentina, research fellowship at MD Anderson (2002-2005), clinical residency at Cleveland Clinic (2006-2010), and progressive academic appointments at MD Anderson since 2012.

Dr. Cata's research focuses on the critical intersection of anesthesiology and cancer outcomes, specifically investigating how perioperative factors influence cancer recurrence and survival. His laboratory is dedicated to deciphering the role of mu-opioid receptor signaling in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. With more than 220 peer-reviewed publications in journals including The Lancet, Advanced Biology, and Frontiers in Oncology, his work has established important connections between anesthetic techniques and long-term cancer outcomes.

His research program encompasses both translational laboratory work examining molecular mechanisms and clinical studies investigating real-world impacts of perioperative interventions. Dr. Cata has several funded clinical trials examining how pain management strategies and anesthetic techniques affect oncological outcomes, representing a paradigm shift in perioperative care for cancer patients.

Dr. Cata's work has significant clinical implications, potentially guiding evidence-based approaches to anesthesia for cancer surgery that optimize not just immediate surgical safety but also long-term cancer survival. His research bridges basic science, translational investigation, and clinical practice to improve outcomes for cancer patients undergoing surgical treatment.

Based at MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas, Dr. Cata maintains an active research program while contributing to patient care through the Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, Division of Anesthesiology, Critical Care Medicine, and Pain Medicine. His laboratory continues to explore innovative approaches to understanding and modifying perioperative factors that impact cancer progression.