A new therapy to restore voice in patients with vocal fold paralysis
Official title: Cellular Reinnervation Therapy for Vocal Fold Paralysis
Funded at Indiana University Indianapolis · NIH-11097326 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is testing a new treatment for vocal fold paralysis, which can cause voice loss, by using special cells from your own body to help improve muscle function in your vocal cords, and right now, they are trying it out in large animals to see how well it works.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Indiana University Indianapolis NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Indianapolis, United States) |
| Project start | August 4, 2021 |
| Project end | May 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $622,399 |
| NIH project number | 5R01DC019632-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11097326 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are adults diagnosed with vocal fold paralysis, particularly those who have not responded well to existing voice restoration treatments.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with vocal fold paralysis due to irreversible damage or those with other underlying conditions affecting voice production may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on developing a novel therapy to treat vocal fold paralysis (VFP), a condition that can lead to voice loss and communication difficulties. The approach involves using modified adult stem cells derived from the patient to restore muscle function in the vocal folds. By injecting these cells into the affected area, the therapy aims to enhance muscle volume and improve vocal fold mobility. Currently, preclinical testing is being conducted in large animal models to assess the effectiveness of this treatment.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could provide a minimally invasive and permanent solution for restoring voice in patients suffering from vocal fold paralysis.
How similar studies have gone: While the approach of using stem cells for vocal fold restoration is innovative, similar techniques in other areas of regenerative medicine have shown promising results.
Where this research is happening
-
Indiana University Indianapolis
Indianapolis, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Halum, Stacey L. — Indiana University Indianapolis
- Study coordinator: Halum, Stacey L.
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Neuromuscular Junction Problems in Hyperkalemic Paralysis
A clinician-scientist is pursuing five years of advanced training and research to better understand and care for people with neuromuscular diseases related to hyperkalemic paralysis.
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Restoring movement after paralysis with AI-powered copilots
A patient-facing AI-aided system would help people with paralysis perform everyday tasks by interpreting the user’s intent and guiding assistive robots.
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CoPE II: Personalizing patient-reported outcomes for vocal fold paralysis care
Aimed at tailoring patient-reported outcome measures to each person with unilateral vocal fold paralysis to better guide treatment decisions.
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Mobile brain-computer interface to help veterans with paralysis control devices
Aimed at improving a mobile brain-computer interface to help veterans with paralysis better control assistive devices at home.
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Preventing awareness during paralysis in emergency ventilated patients and reducing PTSD
This project will change emergency department medication defaults to cut back on a paralytic drug and see if that lowers the chance that adults put on ventilators wake up while paralyzed and later develop PTSD.
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Muscle stem cells to repair paralyzed vocal cords
This project uses muscle-derived stem cells to rebuild and strengthen paralyzed vocal cords in adults with vocal fold paralysis.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.