Specialized Fields and Strengths

• Pharmacometrics

  The Section of Anesthetic Pharmacology possesses the highest level of expertise in pharmacometrics, which mathematically characterizes drug concentrations and pharmacodynamic responses through population pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic modeling. After conducting Phase I clinical trials of agents such as hypnotics and analgesics in healthy volunteers or patient populations, the section develops population population pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic models using NONMEM. These models are applied to target-controlled infusion (TCI) computer systems, which automatically calculate and administer the doses required to rapidly achieve and stably maintain the target plasma or effect-site concentrations during anesthesia.

  Computer-assisted drug delivery is combined with real-time monitoring of various physiological indicators, such as the bispectral index (BIS) and other EEG-based parameters, blood pressure, heart rate, and oxygen saturation, enabling quantitative assessment of drug responses and allowing personalized dosing strategies that account for inter-individual variability.

  In this way, the Anesthetic Pharmacology Section leads the implementation of data-driven precision anesthesia in clinical practice, enhancing both patient safety and the overall efficiency of anesthetic and pain management.

• Clinical Trials for Medical Devices

  The Section specializes in conducting clinical studies on medical devices commonly used in anesthesiology and pain medicine—such as pulse oximeters, EEG-based anesthesia depth monitors, and noninvasive blood pressure systems. Through these studies, the section scientifically validates the accuracy, efficacy, and safety of these devices. In addition, by performing clinical trials commissioned by various domestic and international medical device and pharmaceutical companies, the section contributes to the advancement of medical technology and the growth of the medical device industry.

• Invasive Induced Hypoxemia Research

  In 2014, Asan Medical Center established the nation’s only facility and equipment capable of inducing hypoxemia in healthy volunteers, located within the operating suite. Using this infrastructure, the Section conducts invasive induced hypoxemia studies for pulse oximeter approval in accordance with international standards and regulatory protocols recognized by both the Korean Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

  Healthy volunteers inhale a hypoxic gas mixture, which gradually lowers arterial oxygen saturation (SaO₂) in six target ranges from 100% and 70%, and pulse oximetry (SpO₂) and SaO₂ data are collected at each range. The root mean square of the differences between SpO₂ and SaO₂ is calculated to determine whether the regulatory standards are met.

  In addition, the section conducts studies on cerebral oximetry under controlled hypoxemic conditions. These investigations assess the clinical validity of cerebral oximetry devices by comparing regional cerebral oxygen saturation (rSO₂) with jugular venous oxygen saturation (SjvO₂).

  Drawing on extensive clinical trial experience, the Anesthetic Pharmacology Section successfully carries out invasive induced hypoxemia studies each year for a wide range of domestic and international medical device companies.

Research and Policy Activities

Academic Research and Publications

• Published numerous studies on anesthetic pharmacology, including population pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic models based on nonlinear mixed effects modeling (NONMEM) for hypnotics and analgesics such as propofol, remimazolam, remifentanil, oxycodone, and fentanyl.
• Published studies analyzing biosignals to quantitatively assess the pharmacodynamic effects of anesthetic and analgesic agents.
• Conducted numerous clinically oriented studies focusing on practical topics such as pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamics modeling in specific patient groups, evaluation of explicit and implicit memory during anesthesia, development of pain-depth assessment algorithms, and quantitative analysis of drug interactions between hypnotics and analgesics.

Academic and Educational Activities

• Holds annual NONMEM workshops and expert training courses in anesthetic pharmacology organized by the Korean Society of Anesthetic Pharmacology.
• Regularly offers educational sessions on the latest advances in anesthetic pharmacology for residents, fellows, and nurses.
• Actively participates in joint workshops and academic consulting initiatives with other hospitals and research institutions.

National Research Projects and Policy Contributions

• Carries out multiple national research initiatives, including the development of EEG-based anesthetic depth quantification technologies.
• Contributes to the establishment of policy frameworks and standardization in healthcare R&D through participation in national projects, such as the development of clinical trial guidelines for invasive induced hypoxemia studies by the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS).

Education and Collaboration

• Conducts regulatory clinical trials and validation studies in collaboration with domestic and international medical device companies.
• Engages in interdisciplinary research that integrates biomedical engineering and basic sciences, including the development of EEG-based anesthetic depth monitoring devices.
• Participates in the institutionalization and development of technical standards through national research initiatives.
• Promotes knowledge exchange and next-generation talent development through academic societies, conferences, and workshops.

Vision

The Anesthetic Pharmacology Section of the Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine is dedicated to establishing safe and effective clinical standards grounded in pharmacometrics. By integrating anesthetic pharmacology with biosignal analysis, the section continues to advance its academic and clinical leadership through the development of personalized dosing models for high-risk patients, the establishment of medical device reliability assessment frameworks, and the formulation of national clinical guidelines.