
Faculty Biography
Compassionate Care While You Sleep
Bruce D. Butler, Ph.D.
Professor
Education and Post-Graduate Training
B.A., Biology/Chemistry, The University of Texas University, Austin, Texas
Ph.D., Physiology and Biophysics, The University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas
Postgraduate Training, Wolfson Institute, University of Dundee Medical School, Dundee, Scotland
Postgraduate Training, Department of Anesthesiology, The University of Texas Medical School, Houston, Texas
Professional Experience
Professor, Department of Anesthesiology, The University of Texas Medical School at Houston, Houston, Texas
Vice-President, Research & Technology, UTHSC Houston, Houston, Texas
Associate Director for Advanced Biomedical Imaging Research (CABIR) , UTHSC Houston, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
Research Director, Hermann Ctr. for Environmental Aerospace & Industrial Medicine, Memorial Hermann Hospital, Houston, Texas
Professional Organizations
- Undersea and Hyperbaric Medical Society
- 1990 Alt. Program Committee
- 1994 Co-Chair, Scientific Meeting
- 1993-1994 Secretary
- 1993-1995 Executive Committee
- 1994-1996 Chairman, Publications Committee
- American Physiological Society
- International Union of Physiological Scientists
- Aerospace Medical Association
- Scientific Program Committee
- Space Medicine Branch, Program Committee
- American Society for Gravitation and Space Biology
- Aerospace Physiological Society
- Society of Critical Care Medicine
- NASA-GSRP Advisor
- Associate, Committee on Space Research (COSPAR)
- American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics
- Research Advisory Board; Environmental Biomedical Stress Data Center, Philadelphia, PA
- Association of University Technology Managers (AUTM)
- Licensing Executives Society (LES)
- Alliance of Nanohealth: Steering Committee
- UT System, Chancellor's Technology Transfer Commission
- UT System Office of Research and Technology Transfer; Technology Transfer Advisory Council
Awards
1981 Visiting Scientist Naval Medical Research Institute (NMRI), Bethesda, Maryland
1983 MARC Visiting Scientist (FASEB)
1988 Dean's Teaching Excellence List, The University of Texas Medical School at Houston, Houston, Texas
1990 Dean's Teaching Excellence List, The University of Texas Medical School at Houston, Houston, Texas
1991 Dean's Teaching Excellence List, The University of Texas Medical School at Houston, Houston, Texas
2001 EVA Prebreathe Reduction Protocol Development Team, the NASA Space and Life Sciences Directorate Special Scientific Achievement Award
Research Grants
2003-2006 Depression Sickness as an Inflammatory Disease: Combined Adjunctive Therapy. Principal Investigator, Office of Naval Research (ONR), U.S. Navy NRD-311 $475,853
2007-2009 CT-Imaging, T-5; J Conyers, PI; Salary support for Dr. Butler’s Research Associate, U. S. Army Research, MMRD ($40,550)
2007-2010 Novel Method of Non-invasive Detection and Assessment of Gas Emboli and DCS. Co-Principal Investigator-Sponsor, (Kirill Larin, PI, University of Houston), Office of Naval Research (ONR), U.S. Navy. ($100,000)
Patents
Lichtenberger LM, Hills BA, Butler BD: Methods and composition for treating gastrointestinal ulcer disease. United States Patent Application No. 367-541, United States Patent Office, Washington, DC, 1982, European Patent No. 0092121, Germany No. P3374914.0, Japan Patent No. 64396/1983.
Leiman BC, Butler BD, Katz J: Balloon-tipped suction catheter. United States Patent No. 4,762,125, United States Patent Office, Washington, DC, 1988. Japanese Patent No. 2620250.
Leiman BC, Butler BD, Katz J, Salzarulo HH: Device for the determination of proper endotracheal tube placement. United States Patent No. 4,879,999, United States Patent Office, Washington, DC, 1989, Japanese Patent No. 844-090.
Lichtenberger LM, Butler BA: Methods of enhancing the therapeutic activity of NSAIDS and compositions of Zwitterionic phospholipids useful therein. United States Patent No. 5,763-422.
Butler BD, Warters RD: Method and apparatus for induction of inhaled pharmacological agent by a pediatric patent. United States Patent No. 5,865,172. (Foreign patents)
Butler BD, Warters RD: Apparatus for induction of inhaled pharmacological agent by a pediatric patient. U.S. Patent No. 5,937,852. (Foreign patents)
Butler BD, Warters RD: Apparatus for induction of inhaled pharmacological agent by a pediatric patient. U.S. Patent No. 6,073,628
Lichtenberger LM, Butler BA: Methods of enhancing the therapeutic activity of NSAIDS and compositions of Zwitterionic phospholipids useful therein. United States Patent No. 5,955,451.
Selected Publications
- Little T, Butler BD: Pharmacological intervention to the inflammatory response from decompression sickness in rats. Aviat Space Environ Med 79(2):87-93, 2008.
- Butler BD, Little T: Effects of endotoxin (LPS) on rats subjected to decompression. Undersea Hyperb Med 34:292, 2007.
- Butler BD, Little T: Combined effects of melatonin, hyperbaric oxygen prebreathe and a leukotriene inhibitor on decompression outcomes. Undersea Hyperb Med 33:357, 2006.
- Butler BD, Little T, Cogan V, Powell M., Hyperbaric oxygen pre-breathe (HBOP) modifies the outcome of decompression sickness. Undersea and Hyperbaric Medicine 33:407-417, 2006.
- Butler BD: Gaseous micro emboli: concepts and considerations. J Extra Corpor Technol 38(3):272-9, 2006
- Butler BD, Little T: Decompression Sickness (DCS): Experimental Preventative Therapies. Undersea Hyperb Med 32:230, 2005.
- Butler BD, Little T: Inflammatory responses to decompression sickness (DCS): combined therapies. Undersea Hyperb Med 31, 2004.
- Kurusz M, Butler BD: Bubbles and bypass: an update. Perfusion 19:S49-S55, 2004.
Lectures
- 2004 ONR/NAVSEA/BUMED, U.S. Navy Combined Undersea Medicine Research, “Decompression sickness as an Inflammatory Disease.” Program, Baltimore MD
- 2004 “Technology Transfer”, 3rd Annual Rice University Biotechnology and Healthcare Symposium, Jones Graduate School of Management, Houston, TX
- 2004 “Technology Transfer”, Baker Institute for International Affair, Rice University, Houston, Texas
- 2004 “Patents and Intellectual Property”, UT-TORCH Core Seminar Series, UTHSC-H Dental Branch, Houston, Texas
- 2004 “Technology Transfer and Data Management and Ownership”, UTHSC-H New Investigator Development Program
- 2005 ONR/NAVSEA/BUMED, U.S. Navy Combined Undersea Medicine Research, “Decompression Sickness as an Inflammatory Disease.” Program, Washington, DC.
- 2005 “Life Science Entrepreneurship & Mentoring Series” From Lab to Market; How toCommercialize Technology and Launch a Life Science Business. Rice Alliance Houston, Texas.
- 2006 Technology Transfer in a Modern Health Science Center: From Lab To Market. Rice Alliance. Houston, Texas
- 2006 The Ins and Outs of Intellectual Property, in Topics of Translational Research. UTHSC-Houston, Houston, Texas
- 2006 Technology Transfer in a Modern Health Science Center. UTHSCH Postdoctoral Certificate Program
- 2007 Intellectual property, commercialization and industry partnering in: Navigating the Regulatory Highway, Clinical research and Regulatory Practice, Houston, Texas
Location & Contact
6431 Fannin Street,
MSB 5.020
Houston, Texas 77030
713.500.6200
713.500.6208 fax
Our Affiliations
Our affiliates include the following:
Faculty Biography

- Bruce D. Butler, Ph.D.
Professor - Department of Anesthesiology
The University of Texas Medical School at Houston - University of Texas-Houston Medical School
6431 Fannin Street, MSB-5.174
Houston, Texas 77030 - phone: (713) 500-3369
e-mail: Bruce.D.Butler@uth.tmc.edu


