OUR HISTORY
Trusted hypoxia research since 1958
Founded by John W. Severinghaus, MD, in 1958, the UCSF Hypoxia Research Laboratory is a leading center for the study of the effects of hypoxia on humans. The laboratory has focused on oxygen transport, oxygen measurement, and high-altitude physiology for more than 40 years. Studies done in San Francisco and at the University of California’s White Mountain Research Station represent some of the most important studies ever done on human adaptation to high altitude. We continue this interest in studies on control of breathing and adaptation to hypoxia in humans.
A major current activity of the laboratory is the evaluation of the accuracy of pulse oximetry. We have a continuing interest in pulse oximeter development and provide accuracy testing of pulse oximeters and related devices for industry.
At the present time, the Hypoxia Lab is also actively working to improve access to accurate oximeters, especially those commonly found in resource-denied settings. The Lab will soon be launching OpenOximetry.org.
We are a completely independent university-based testing facility with no ties to pulse oximeter manufacturers.
HYPOXIA LABORATORY STAFF
John W. Severinghaus, M.D.
Professor Emeritus
Department Of Anesthesia And Perioperative Care
University Of California, San Francisco
John W Severinghaus MD, founder of the UCSF Hypoxia Research Laboratory, died June 2nd, 2021 at age 99. His innumerable contributions included the invention of modern blood gas analysis and blood gas machines. He also contributed fundamentally to understanding the control of breathing and adaptation to high altitudes in humans. His interest in hypoxia and high-altitude medicine led to the founding of the Hypoxia Research Laboratory in 1958, shortly after his arrival in San Francisco. John began studies of pulse oximeter performance in the early 1980s, as soon as pulse oximeters became available for use in the United States. The methods he developed are still the gold standard for producing controlled, safe hypoxia in humans. His contributions have enabled the accuracy of pulse oximeters to be improved, and so has contributed immensely to the safety of anesthesia and the monitoring of patients with lung disease. The importance of accurate pulse oximetry in the monitoring of patients with COVID-19 cannot be overstated.
UCSF Profile
Pioneers of Anesthesia Lecture by Dr. Severinghaus
Philip E. Bickler, Ph.D., M.D.
Professor
Department Of Anesthesia And Perioperative Care
Director Of Hypoxia Research Laboratory And Neuroscience Laboratories
University Of California, San Francisco
Dr. Bickler joined Dr. Severinghaus as a research fellow in 1986 and has directed the laboratory since Dr. Severinghaus’ retirement in the early 1990’s. In addition to the hypoxia laboratory for industry sponsored clinical studies, Dr. Bickler directs a basic science laboratory that is involved in studying how neurons adapt to oxygen deprivation. He also oversees our high altitude protocols, clinical projects investigating regional and cerebral oximetry during neurosurgery, and a pilot study examining the effects of acute hypoxia and pre-conditioning on cognition. He has published over 80 peer reviewed studies. Visit the Bickler Lab website.
John R. Feiner, M.D.
Professor
Department Of Anesthesia And Perioperative Care
University Of California, San Francisco
Dr. Feiner joined Dr. Severinghaus in the lab in 1992 and has been participating in the study of pulse oximeters since then. He is responsible for data acquisition, programming, and data analysis. He provides expertise in mathematical modeling, data acquisition programming, human studies, and respiratory physiology. Dr. Feiner's other interests including SCUBA diving and freediving physiology. He has participated as a freediving safety and physician for freediving competitions.
UCSF Profile
Helge Eilers, M.D.
Professor
Clinical Anesthesia
Director Of Liver Transplant Anesthesia
University Of California, San Francisco
Dr. Eilers has been a part of the Hypoxia Lab research team since 2002. In addition to being a part of our team, Dr. Eilers is involved in a number of research projects focused on the advancement of our understanding of the molecular mechanisms responsible for the transduction of painful stimuli in peripheral nociceptive neurons. His main effort is currently directed at investigating the effects of general anesthetics in peripheral nociceptors. Irritant anesthetics such as isoflurane have been shown to activate sensory neurons and may contribute to the severity of postoperative pain.
UCSF Profile
Jeff Sall, M.D., Ph.D.
Professor James P. Livingston Endowed Chair
Department Of Anesthesia And Perioperative Care
University Of California, San Francisco
Dr. Sall joined the Hypoxia Research Lab in 2005 and has been participating in the study of pulse oximeters since then. He also directed a phase 2 clinical trial for a medication to prevent altitude illness and is currently overseeing a phase 3 trial for the same drug. Dr. Sall’s basic science research is focused on how early exposure to anesthesia and cannabis, affects the brain and cognitive development.
https://anesthesia.ucsf.edu/research-group/sall-lab#home
Michael Lipnick, M.D.
Assistant Professor
Department of Anesthesia & Perioperative Care
University of California, San Francisco
Michael Lipnick MD is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Anesthesia at UCSF and based clinically at San Francisco General Hospital. He is a graduate of the UCSF School of Medicine and completed residency programs in Internal Medicine at Harvard’s Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Anesthesia Residency at UCSF as well as Critical Care Fellowship at UCSF. His research interests include comparative physiology with focus on mechanisms of hypoxia tolerance and preconditioning. He completed a research fellowship at Stanford’s Hopkins Marine Station where he studied mechanisms of cold-tolerance among endothermic fish. Michael’s interests in public health have focused on injury and critical care in resource-constrained settings. He has served as a contributor to the Global Burden of Disease Study Group and co-founded The Global Health Hub and Global Partners in Anesthesia and Surgery (GPAS). Dr. Lipnick’s current grant funding is aimed at developing novel methods for oximetry validation during severe anemia.
UCSF Profile
Andrew Schober, M.D.
Assistant Professor
Department of Anesthesia & Perioperative Care
University of California, San Francisco
Matthew Dudley, M.D
Chief Drone Operator
Assistant Professor
Department of Anesthesia & Periperative care
University of California, San Francisco
Koa Gudelunas
Clinical Research Coordinator
Department Of Anesthesia & Perioperative Care
University of California, San Francisco/San Francisco VA Medical Center
Koa joined the lab in May 2016. His research projects in the lab include the value of cerebral tissue oxygenation during Neurovascular surgery and its potential use as a way to predict surgical outcomes and if cerebral oximetry can better access cerebral perfusion during Neurosurgery. He also has interests in heart rate variability as a predictor of cardiac arrest. He received his B.S. in Neuroscience from The University of California, Santa Cruz in 2015. His ultimate goal is to practice medicine and plans to apply to medical school in the next couple years.
Ella Behnke
Clinical Research Coordinator
Department Of Anesthesia & Perioperative Care
University of California, San Francisco