Gentle throat vibration therapy for stubborn chronic cough

Vibrotactile stimulation of the larynx for refractory chronic cough

['FUNDING_OTHER'] · UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA · NIH-11170705

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

Phase['FUNDING_OTHER']
Study typeNih_funding
SexAll
SponsorUNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA (nih funded)
Locations1 site (MINNEAPOLIS, UNITED STATES)
Trial IDNIH-11170705 on ClinicalTrials.gov

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.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal candidates are adults with persistent chronic cough that has not improved after standard treatments.

Not a fit: 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.

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 performed: 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

MINNEAPOLIS, UNITED STATES

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.

View on NIH RePORTER →

Last reviewed 2026-05-15 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.