Improving swallow and cough safety for people with Parkinson's using in-person or telehealth therapy
Official title: Rehabilitation of Airway Protection in Parkinson's Disease: Comparing In-Person and Telehealth Service Delivery Models
Funded at Columbia University Teachers College · NIH-11385752 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project compares in-person and remote (telehealth) swallowing and cough training to help people with Parkinson's protect their airway.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Columbia University Teachers College NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2022 |
| Project end | July 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $148,378 |
| NIH project number | 3R01NS126319-04S1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11385752 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People with a diagnosis of Parkinson's disease who have swallowing or cough problems (dysphagia or weak cough) and can participate in therapy sessions either in clinic or via telehealth are ideal candidates.
✕Less likely to help
People without airway protection problems, those with severe cognitive impairment preventing participation, or those without reliable internet for telehealth may not receive benefit from this approach.
What this research studies
You would learn exercises called Expiratory Muscle Strength Training (EMST) and Cough Skill Training (CST) to make swallowing and coughing safer. Some participants get the therapy face-to-face at the clinic while others do the same sessions from home over telehealth. The researchers will measure swallowing and cough strength, track pneumonia-related events, and collect your quality-of-life and satisfaction feedback. The aim is to determine whether remote therapy works as well as in-person care so more people can get treatment.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, more people with Parkinson's could access effective airway-protecting therapy from home, potentially lowering aspiration pneumonia risk and improving quality of life.
How similar studies have gone: Previous smaller trials show EMST and CST can improve swallowing and cough in Parkinson's and are feasible via telehealth, but direct head-to-head non-inferiority comparisons are limited.
Where this research is happening
-
Columbia University Teachers College
New York, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Troche, Michelle S — Columbia University Teachers College
- Study coordinator: Troche, Michelle S
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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.