Hydrogel-based model to study human vocal fold scarring
Official title: A Hydrogel-Based Cellular Model of the Human Vocal Fold
Funded at University of Delaware · NIH-11378241 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A patient-facing model using a gel-based human vocal fold tissue to better understand why scarring happens and how treatments might restore normal voice.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Delaware NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Newark, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | December 1, 2015 |
| Project end | August 31, 2031 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $665,331 |
| NIH project number | 2R01DC014461-11 |
| Project ID | NIH-11378241 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are adults with voice disorders related to vocal fold damage who may benefit from future translation of these findings into therapies or diagnostics.
✕Less likely to help
Individuals without voice disorders or those not impacted by vocal fold scarring are unlikely to directly benefit.
What this research studies
This project creates a realistic, gel-filled model of the human vocal fold to study how scarring alters voice tissue at the cellular and molecular levels. Researchers will simulate vocal fold movement and examine how cells respond to mechanical forces and signaling pathways that may drive fibrosis. The goal is to uncover how changes in tissue stiffness and cell signaling contribute to loss of function, with the long-term aim of guiding better therapies for people with damaged voices.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could lead to new strategies to prevent or reverse vocal fold scarring and improve voice quality for patients.
How similar studies have gone: Other fibrotic tissue studies have shown that mechanical cues and signaling pathways influence scar formation, supporting a path toward translational impact.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Delaware
Newark, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Jia, Xinqiao — University of Delaware
- Study coordinator: Jia, Xinqiao
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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.