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David Brett MacLeod

Associate Professor of Anesthesiology
Anesthesiology, Regional
Box 3094 Med Ctr, Durham, NC
2301 Erwin Road, 5695 Hafs Building, Durham, NC 27708

Overview


Clinical Anesthesia
My principal clinical interest is the use of peripheral nerve blocks in primarily orthopedic joint replacement procedures. I am a member of the Regional Division with responsibilities to spine, trauma & plastic surgery.


I was the co-director of the Carolina Cadaver Course, which was run annually in conjunction with Wake Forest University School of Medicine. I have been involved in teaching the use of ultrasound for the placement of peripheral nerve blocks and have lectured on several national courses.

Human Pharmacology & Physiology Lab (HPPL)
I am the Director of the HPPL which is the the Department of Anesthesiology's clinical research lab designed to conduct studies in healthy volunteers. It is designed to collect comprehensive physiological data in a manner similar to the Operating Room (OR), using both non-invasive and invasive techniques. The key areas of interest are:

  • Early human clinical drug trials (Phase 1 & 2) of drugs related to anesthesia
  • Conduct of clinical equipment validation studies prior to FDA approval

Current Appointments & Affiliations


Associate Professor of Anesthesiology · 2021 - Present Anesthesiology, Regional, Anesthesiology

Recent Publications


Cerebral Blood Flow in Orthostatic Intolerance.

Journal Article J Am Heart Assoc · February 4, 2025 Cerebral blood flow (CBF) is vital for delivering oxygen and nutrients to the brain. Many forms of orthostatic intolerance (OI) involve impaired regulation of CBF in the upright posture, which results in disabling symptoms that decrease quality of life. Be ... Full text Link to item Cite

Intense exercise at high altitude causes platelet loss across the brain in humans.

Journal Article J Physiol · November 2024 Platelets are known primarily for their role in blood clotting; however, it is becoming clear that they play diverse roles beyond that of haemostasis. Exercise has been shown to activate platelets and stimulate neurogenesis, neuroplasticity and improve cog ... Full text Link to item Cite

Severe hypoxaemic hypercapnia compounds cerebral oxidative-nitrosative stress during extreme apnoea: Implications for cerebral bioenergetic function.

Journal Article J Physiol · November 2024 We examined the extent to which apnoea-induced extremes of oxygen demand/carbon dioxide production impact redox regulation of cerebral bioenergetic function. Ten ultra-elite apnoeists (six men and four women) performed two maximal dry apnoeas preceded by n ... Full text Link to item Cite
View All Publications

Recent Grants


Applied Physiology of CNS Oxygen Toxicity: Mechanisms in Humans

ResearchCo Investigator · Awarded by Office of Naval Research · 2023 - 2026

OBPM: VOCOM- Cyban

Clinical TrialPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by Cyban Pty Ltd. · 2024 - 2025

View All Grants

Education, Training & Certifications


St. Mary's Hospital Medical School (United Kingdom) · 1987 M.B.B.S.