Gentle throat vibration therapy for stubborn chronic cough
Official title: Vibrotactile stimulation of the larynx for refractory chronic cough
Funded at University of Minnesota · NIH-11170705 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project uses gentle vibration applied to the throat to try to reduce long-lasting cough in people whose cough hasn't improved with usual treatments.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Minnesota NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Minneapolis, United States) |
| Project start | August 15, 2024 |
| Project end | July 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $228,654 |
| NIH project number | 5R34HL174877-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11170705 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are adults with persistent chronic cough that has not improved after standard treatments.
✕Less likely to help
Patients whose cough is caused by an easily treatable condition or who cannot tolerate or attend in-person throat stimulation visits may not receive benefit from this project.
What this research studies
You would receive gentle vibrotactile stimulation applied to the larynx (throat) with varying dose levels to find the most helpful schedule. The team will track cough frequency, cough-related quality of life, and any side effects during and after each dosing condition. This work builds on early results that showed fewer coughs and better quality of life with similar vibration therapy. If a best dose is identified, it could guide larger trials of this approach.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the treatment could lower how often you cough and improve daily quality of life for people with refractory chronic cough.
How similar studies have gone: Early pilot findings reported improvements in cough counts and cough-related quality of life, but the approach remains early and needs dose-finding confirmation.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Minnesota
Minneapolis, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Misono, Stephanie — University of Minnesota
- Study coordinator: Misono, Stephanie
Related research
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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.