Research in Focus shines a light on the innovative studies and discoveries taking shape across the UBC Department of Anesthesiology, Pharmacology & Therapeutics. Through each feature, we celebrate the minds driving meaningful change in research, education, and clinical practice across anesthesiology, pharmacology, and therapeutics.
In the weightlessness of space, even routine medical procedures pose unique challenges. Dr. Matthew Turnock and his colleagues are investigating how spinal anesthesia behaves when gravity is removed. Their project explores the dispersion of intrathecal solutions in microgravity and related analogue environments, using physician-volunteer studies on Earth and during parabolic flight.
By combining physiological monitoring, imaging, and pharmacologic modeling, the team is uncovering how baricity, posture, and spinal curvature influence anesthetic distribution when gravitational cues are absent. This work bridges aerospace medicine, anesthesiology, and fluid dynamics. Ultimately, the findings could help guide clinical protocols for regional anesthesia in space and deepen our understanding of cerebrospinal fluid dynamics—paving the way for safer surgical and emergency care in microgravity and future low-gravity environments like the Moon or Mars.
“The most rewarding part of my research journey has been coming full circle—from being a student to becoming a mentor.”
– Matthew Turnock, Clinical Assistant Professor, UBC
Meet Matthew Turnock!
Site: Royal Columbian Hospital
Rank: Clinical Assistant Professor
Dr. Turnock developed an early interest in neuroscience, medical simulation, and human performance in extreme environments while completing an undergraduate degree in Computational Neuroscience and a Master of Science in eHealth at McMaster University through research conducted in the Canadian Arctic and Mars analog sites. Drawn to anesthesiology for its unique integration of technology, physiology, and pharmacology, Dr. Turnock is inspired by the specialty’s hands-on approach and the ability to see the immediate results of interventions. Today, his work at Royal Columbian Hospital and involvement in teaching UBC residents continue to challenge and expand his skills as both a clinician and researcher.
What drew you to this particular research question or problem?
It addresses a fundamental gap in knowledge and explores the relatively under-researched area of Anesthesiology in human spaceflight. Traditionally, the anesthesia and space medicine communities have assumed that spinal anesthesia would behave predictably in microgravity, despite the high risk of total spinal anesthesia, even though its distribution on Earth depends entirely on gravity. With the rapid growth of human spaceflight, longer missions, and increased commercial participation, this assumption required careful testing. Finding the answer is crucial not only for ensuring that safe and effective anesthesia can be delivered in space but also for deepening our understanding of how spinal anesthesia functions in terrestrial environments.
How does this project fit into your broader research interests or goals?
This project directly supports our broader research goal of advancing anesthesia care in extreme environments—whether in space, underwater, or remote terrestrial settings—by examining how altered gravity, pressure, and physiology affect anesthetic delivery and safety. Collectively, these efforts aim to inform future clinical practice in situations where conventional assumptions no longer apply. Our research group at Royal Columbian Hospital is highly supportive and enthusiastic about this unique area of study, and we hope that these early investigations will lay the groundwork for a robust and ongoing research program.
What’s been the most rewarding moment in your research journey so far?
The most rewarding part of my research journey has been coming full circle—from being a student to becoming a mentor. During my master’s degree, I had an incredible supervisor who encouraged me to take on new challenges and provided unforgettable experiences, such as spending a month living in a tent in the Canadian Arctic. That experience profoundly shaped my approach to learning and mentorship. One of the highlights of my career so far has been offering my own students similar opportunities, including giving two of them the chance to experience zero gravity during a parabolic flight campaign.