How the brain controls swallowing and airway protection
Official title: Regulation of laryngeal and orofacial motor function during swallow
Funded at University of Florida · NIH-11630949 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A research team at the University of Florida is studying how brain networks control swallowing to reduce risk of choking and lung infections in people with neuromuscular diseases.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Florida NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Gainesville, United States) |
| Project start | September 23, 2026 |
| Project end | August 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $556,491 |
| NIH project number | 1R56NS152087-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11630949 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are patients with neuromuscular diseases affecting swallowing or those who contribute tissue/blood samples or data in future human studies.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without neuromuscular disorders or swallowing impairment are unlikely to directly benefit from this basic mechanistic project.
What this research studies
This project looks at how the brainstem circuits orchestrate swallowing and protect the airway, aiming to map the cellular interactions that time mouth-to-stomach movements. By studying animal models, scientists hope to identify why swallowing sometimes fails and leads to aspiration. The findings could guide new approaches to improve swallow function and prevent pneumonia in patients with neuromuscular conditions. The work could lay the groundwork for future therapies that restore safer swallowing in people who currently have limited options.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the research could inform new strategies to prevent aspirational pneumonia by improving swallowing safety.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work has shown that brainstem swallowing networks are complex; this project challenges and expands on that knowledge with more detailed cellular interactions.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Florida
Gainesville, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Bolser, Donald C — University of Florida
- Study coordinator: Bolser, Donald C
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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.