Comparing ways to help young animals recover their swallowing abilities after a long liquid diet
Official title: A Comparison of Treatment Strategies for Recovery of Swallow and Swallow-Respiratory Coupling Following a Prolonged Liquid Diet in a Young Animal Model
Funded at Ohio University Athens · NIH-10811606 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how different treatments can help young animals learn to swallow and breathe properly again after being on a liquid diet for a long time, and the findings could help babies and kids who have similar swallowing issues.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Ohio University Athens NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Athens, United States) |
| Project start | April 1, 2023 |
| Project end | March 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $155,402 |
| NIH project number | 5R21HD108761-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-10811606 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for participation or benefit from this research would be infants and young children who have experienced delays in transitioning from liquid to solid foods.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are older than 21 years or those who do not have swallowing difficulties related to prolonged liquid diets may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates how different treatment strategies can help young animals regain their ability to swallow and coordinate swallowing with breathing after being on a prolonged liquid diet. The study focuses on understanding the physiological and biomechanical changes that occur during this recovery process. By using an animal model, the researchers aim to gather data that can inform rehabilitation strategies for infants and children who may face similar challenges. The goal is to identify effective methods to support the transition from liquid to textured foods during critical growth periods.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved treatment strategies for infants and children who struggle with swallowing after extended periods on liquid diets.
How similar studies have gone: While this research approach is novel in its specific focus on young animals, similar studies in human populations have indicated the importance of timely dietary transitions for healthy swallowing development.
Where this research is happening
-
Ohio University Athens
Athens, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Williams, Susan H — Ohio University Athens
- Study coordinator: Williams, Susan H
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.