Harvard Catalyst Profiles

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Lei Gao, M.D.

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Biography
2019
Society for Neuroscience Trainee Professional Development Award
2020
Sleep Research Society Trainee Merit Based Award
2020
Sleep Research Society Grant Writing Workshop Award

Overview
I am an anesthesiologist who specializes in the care of general surgery, off-site and neurosurgical patients. After completing residency training at the MGH, I joined the faculty at the MGH/Harvard Medical School while conducting research as part of the Harvard Anesthesia T-32 training grant. My area of expertise is in disorders of cognition, sleep and circadian rhythm, and neurotrauma. I have a background in computational neurosciences and non-linear dynamics that have enabled me to develop new prognostic tools in traumatic brain injury and further define mechanisms of anesthesia using electroencephalography. I currently work with Drs Kun Hu and Frank Scheer at the Brigham and Women’s Hospital Sleep Medicine group, Dr Oluwaseun Johnson-Akeju at the MGH, as well as Dr Richa Saxena at the Broad Institute to explore environmental (e.g. shiftwork), behavioral (e.g. sleep hygiene, meal timing, social jetlag) and genetic markers of poor cardiovascular (e.g. metabolic syndrome and diabetes), neurological (e.g. postoperative delirium), and pain outcomes. My hope is to integrate these disciplines to improve the early detection and treatment of perioperative neurocognitive disorders).

Mentoring
Available: 12/01/22, Expires: 12/31/24

Sleep health and medicine are relevant to all medical and surgical specialties. Postoperative delirium (POD), cognitive decline, and Alzheimer's disease (AD) may be of particular interest to future anesthesiologists, intensivists, surgeons, or neurologists. We have opportunities for a student interested in both large database analysis and/or clinical data collection for sleep/circadian rhythms (our 24-h body clock status) prior to major surgery. We will provide all training needed depending on the work and goals to be accomplished. Our lab has an excellent track record for previous students to present at national/international conferences that have resulted in publications to support the students' next steps.


Research
The research activities and funding listed below are automatically derived from NIH ExPORTER and other sources, which might result in incorrect or missing items. Faculty can login to make corrections and additions.
  1. AACSF-23-1148490 (GAO, LEI) Jul 1, 2023 - Jun 30, 2026
    Alzheimer's Association
    Sleep/Circadian Regulation and Progression to Postoperative Dementia
    Role: Principal Investigator
  2. GEMSSTAR-04-15-2021 (GAO, LEI) Apr 15, 2021 - Apr 14, 2023
    Foundation for Anesthesia Education and Research (FAER)
    Clinical and Translational Research Methods
    Role: Principal Investigator
  3. R03AG067985 (GAO, LEI) Sep 15, 2020 - May 31, 2023
    NIH/NIA
    Circadian Multiscale Activity Regulation and the Risk for Delirium in Elderly Hospitalized Patients
    Role: Principal Investigator
  4. A2020886S (LI, PENG) Sep 1, 2020 - Aug 31, 2023
    The BrightFocus Foundation
    Circadian regulation, autonomic function, and Alzheimer’s disease
    Role: Sub-PI
  5. MRTG-02-15-2020 (GAO, LEI) Jul 1, 2020 - Sep 14, 2020
    FAER Mentored Research Training Grant
    Circadian/Sleep Disturbance and Systemic Inflammation in the Development of Delirium
    Role: Principal Investigator

Bibliographic
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Funded by the NIH National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences through its Clinical and Translational Science Awards Program, grant number UL1TR002541.