About SmartTots

SmartTots is a collaborative effort sponsored by the IARS and designed to increase the safety of anesthetic and sedative drugs for the millions of children who undergo medical procedures each year.

In 2009, to address the growing concern about the potential adverse consequences of general anesthesia in young patients, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the International Anesthesia Research Society (IARS) established a public-private partnership (PPP). Under the SmartTots PPP, the IARS brought together multiple stakeholders, including academic research institutions, medical professionals and societies, and other government and nonprofit organizations to address scientific and clinical gaps regarding the safe use of anesthetics and sedatives in children. While non-human studies confirm a link between anesthesia use and damage to the developing brain in animals, currently there is insufficient clinical evidence to establish a clear link between the effects of these drugs on the development of the human brain. The FDA partnership has concluded, but IARS continues the essential work of SmartTots to address the gaps in research and make anesthesia and sedation safer for children around the world.

Research funded through SmartTots investigates multiple aspects of existing anesthetics and their administration, including dosage and exposure. Findings from these studies will establish new practice guidelines and, as necessary, new age-appropriate anesthetics.

About the IARS

IARS is a nonpolitical, not-for-profit medical society dedicated to advancing and supporting scientific research and education related to anesthesia, and to improving patient care through research. Founded in 1922, the IARS contributes more than $1 million annually to fund anesthesia research and provides a forum for leaders in anesthesia research to share information and ideas. Membership includes physicians and others engaged in anesthesia-related practice, research, and training worldwide.

SmartTots: 13 Years of Progress

During the 2000’s, preclinical research studies began to find that laboratory animals exposed to commonly used anesthetic and sedative drugs early in life showed changes to the brain and nervous system that interfered with memory and learning.  Additional research during this time set off alarms for the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), parents, and the anesthesia practitioner community. The FDA held its first Advisory Committee hearing on this issue in 2007. As an outcome of that meeting, representatives from the FDA reached out to the International Anesthesia Research Society (IARS) in 2008 with the idea of forming a Public Private Partnership to address these new, startling findings.  IARS was uniquely positioned to partner with the FDA due to its non-political collaborative mission, infrastructure, expertise and commitment to research, education and advancing the specialty.

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