Harvard Catalyst Profiles

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Lei Gao, M.D.

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Biography
awards and honors
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
overview
I am a neuro-anesthesiologist with a background in bioengineering, computational neurosciences, and clinical trials involving sleep optimization and/or mental health interventions, e.g., cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-I), to improve patients' recovery and quality of life. Our Perioperative Sleep and Brain Health Lab (PSBL) aims to identify modifiable risk factors for preventing postoperative delirium (POD) and post-surgical pain in a pilot prospective observational study (SLEEP-POD; NCT06052397) and currently conducts two randomized clinical trials: 1) The SCOPE Trial testing digital CBTi, cognitive prehabilitation and analgesia for POD prevention funded by PCORI, and 2) The SLEEP-BOOST trial testing CBTi for brain health and pain outcomes in older orthopedic surgery patients. Our lab also collaborates with other studies on sleep health and circadian rhythm research, particularly in underserved community populations (e.g., developing culturally-tailored CBT-I for Black/Hispanic and Asian American communities, those with chronic pain, neurofibromatosis, veterans post-TBI, and dementia patients in Latin American countries).
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Mentoring
current student opportunities
Available: 12/01/22, Expires: 12/31/25

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
research activities and funding
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.
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  1. R03AG087439 (GAO, LEI) Aug 15, 2024 - Jul 31, 2026
    NIH/NIA
    A Pilot Study of Digital Sleep Optimization for Brain Health Outcomes in Older Surgical Patients (SLEEP-BOOST)
    Role: Principal Investigator
  2. DE-2023C1-31327 (SUBRAMANIAM, BALACHUNDHAR; GAO, LEI) Apr 1, 2024 - Mar 31, 2029
    PCORI
    The SCOPE Trial: Sleep, Cognition, and Pain Bundle vs. ERAS-Cardiac for Postoperative Delirium
    Role: Co-Principal Investigator
  3. AACSF-23-1148490 (GAO, LEI) Oct 1, 2023 - Sep 30, 2026
    Alzheimer's Association
    Sleep/Circadian Regulation and Progression to Postoperative Dementia
    Role: Principal Investigator
  4. R01AG083799 (HU, KUN) Sep 15, 2023 - Jun 30, 2028
    NIH
    Circadian disturbance and dementia in Latin America
    Role: Co-Investigator
  5. 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

Bibliographic
selected publications
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© 2025 President and Fellows of Harvard College
Funded by the NIH National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences through its Clinical and Translational Science Awards Program, grant number UL1TR002541.