Creating a new tool to assess swallowing and speaking difficulties in ALS patients
Official title: The development and validation of a novel tool for the assessment of bulbar dysfunction in ALS
Funded at Sunnybrook Research Institute · NIH-10440426 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is working on a new tool to help doctors better understand and measure problems with speaking and swallowing in people with ALS, so they can improve care and treatment options for patients.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Sunnybrook Research Institute NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Toronto, Canada) |
| Project start | July 20, 2018 |
| Project end | June 30, 2025 |
| Funding year | 2022 |
| Award (this year) | $481,005 |
| NIH project number | 5R01DC017291-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-10440426 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis who experience difficulties with speaking and swallowing.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not have ALS or those without bulbar dysfunction may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on developing a clinical tool to objectively assess bulbar dysfunction in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Bulbar dysfunction significantly affects communication and swallowing, leading to serious health risks. The project aims to create the ALS Index of Bulbar Dysfunction (ALS-IBD) by gathering expert opinions and reviewing existing literature to ensure the tool is both valid and reliable. By improving the assessment of these symptoms, the research hopes to enhance clinical practices and facilitate therapeutic trials.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to better management of bulbar dysfunction in ALS patients, improving their quality of life and treatment outcomes.
How similar studies have gone: While the approach of developing a specific assessment tool for bulbar dysfunction in ALS is relatively novel, similar methodologies have shown promise in other areas of neuromuscular disease research.
Where this research is happening
-
Sunnybrook Research Institute
Toronto, Canada Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Yunusova, Yana — Sunnybrook Research Institute
- Study coordinator: Yunusova, Yana
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.