Newswise — The International Anesthesia Research Society (IARS) announces that Dr. Michael F. Roizen will Chair the Executive Board of SAFEKIDS (Safety of Key Inhaled and Intravenous Drugs in Pediatrics). SAFEKIDS, a public-private partnership between the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the IARS, was launched as a long-term collaborative effort to address major gaps in scientific and clinical knowledge regarding safety for the millions of infants and children who undergo anesthesia and sedation each year. Projects conducted under the auspices of SAFEKIDS will investigate diverse aspects of existing anesthetics and their administration as well as patient outcome. Ultimately, these projects will enhance the safety of current anesthetics and drive the development of new drugs. The SAFEKIDS Executive Board has announced a $30 million fundraising effort to support this research; Dr. Roizen will lead the fundraising activities.
“Making sure that drugs, and procedures using drugs, are safe and have a good chance of benefiting a patient’s long-term health is the most important goal of medicine today,” explains Dr. Roizen. “The great news is that while anesthesia-related studies are difficult to do, the FDA and hundreds of researchers are enthusiastic about doing them. And we must do this work to make sure kids are cared for to the best of our abilities, and donating to this foundation is how the public can help. All monies collected – 100 percent of all donations – will be used to pursue these much-needed research studies.”
Dr. Rob Sladen, Chair of the IARS Board of Trustees, adds: “We are delighted that Mike Roizen is leading the SAFEKIDS Public-Private Partnership. He has earned the public’s trust through his tireless advocacy of wellness and safe medical practice. This, along with his first-hand knowledge of anesthetics and anesthesia practice, uniquely qualifies him to lead SAFEKIDS and help the public understand the implications of ongoing research on the safety of anesthesia in infants and young children.”
In addition to the IARS, many medical societies, patient support groups, pharmaceutical companies, and other organizations will be involved. Anesthesiology has long been the medical specialty that has led safety initiatives. SAFEKIDS is another example of that vision.
About Dr. Roizen
Dr. Roizen is Chief Wellness Officer at the Cleveland Clinic Foundation. In addition, Dr. Roizen is the cofounder and Chair of the Scientific Advisory Board of RealAge, Inc., a consumer-health media company and provider of personalized health information and management tools. Dr. Roizen is past Chair of an FDA advisory committee and a former editor of six medical journals. He has also published more than 155 peer-reviewed scientific papers, 100 textbook chapters, 30 editorials, and 4 medical books, as well as the bestselling “Real Age” and “YOU” series of books, including RealAge: Are You as Young as You Can Be? and YOU: An Owner’s Manual, co-authored with Dr. Mehmet Oz. Dr. Roizen is a practicing anesthesiologist, certified by both the American Board of Anesthesiology and the American Board of Internal Medicine.
About the IARS
The IARS is a non-political medical society founded in 1922 to advance and support anesthesia research and education. The IARS contributes more than $1 million annually to fund anesthesia research and provides a forum for leaders in anesthesia research to share information and ideas. The Society also publishes the Anesthesia & Analgesia journal in print and online. For complete information about the IARS and its programs, visit the IARS website.
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