Anesthesiology Clinical Research Center

The Anesthesiology Clinical Research Center (ACRC) conducts clinical research with federal, foundation, and industry funding. Janet Vaughan, MS, NP, serves as the Director and oversees a staff of a research nurse coordinator, a research technician, and a grant administrator. The ACRC has the equipment and resources necessary for the performance of inpatient and outpatient clinical research.

Our extensive clinical research program covers a wide range of research interests, including sleep-disordered breathing, pain, critical care, and postoperative outcomes.One of the major areas of ACRC research has been Phase II, III, and IV clinical trials of treatments for outpatients with a wide variety of chronic pain conditions. Over the past 30 years, the ACRC has been very active in multicenter clinical trials conducted by industry sponsors for the development of new analgesic drugs and in evaluating new analgesic indications for existing medications. The ACRC has particular expertise in clinical trials of the treatment and prevention of neuropathic pain, especially postherpetic neuralgia and painful diabetic neuropathy. Multiple clinical trials have also been conducted in cancer-related pain, fibromyalgia, low back pain, osteoarthritis, and opioid-associated bowel dysfunction as well as procedural-related efficacy in reducing chronic pain.

Faculty and Staff

Janet Pennella-Vaughan, MS, NP

Director, Anesthesiology Clinical Research Center

Senior Associate Nurse Practitioner, Anesthesia Pain Service

Clinical Associate School of Nursing

Jacob Nadler, MD, PhD

Medical Director, Anesthesiology Clinical research Center

Associate Professor Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine

Tammy Ortiz

Research & Grant Administrator

Tatsiana Stefanos, MBBS, RN

Research Nurse Coordinator