Dr. Joan Kendig

Biography

Joan Kendig is a Professor Emeritus in the Biology Department of Anesthesia at Stanford University. Her research focuses on the pharmacologic agents used in the practice of anesthesia, particularly how general anesthetics can lead to desirable therapeutic endpoints such as unconsciousness, immobility, and absence of pain. She has contributed significantly to the understanding of general anesthetics, challenging the old notion that they act solely as non-specific 'membrane stabilizers.' Kendig investigates the specific actions of anesthetics on particular ion channels and intracellular signaling systems. Her current research involves identifying anesthetic effects on ligand-gated and messenger-operated ion channels in mammalian neurons through receptor-specific evoked potentials and whole cell patch clamp techniques. Additionally, she aims to understand the mechanisms of spinal sensitization that contribute to chronic pain and the development of tolerance to anesthetic analgesic agents. Kendig's pioneering work includes the characterization of long-term potentiation (LTP) in the isolated spinal cord and the effects of opioids, morphine, and ethanol on spinal cord excitability, with implications for tolerance, dependence, and withdrawal mechanisms.

Research Interests