Improving vocal fold movement after nerve injury
Central modulation-paired motor rehabilitation for recurrent laryngeal nerve injury
This research explores a new way to help people regain vocal fold movement and improve swallowing after a nerve injury.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Texas Dallas NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Richardson, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11158788 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
When the nerve to your vocal cords is damaged, it can make it hard to speak and swallow safely. Current treatments often help with closing the vocal cords but don't restore their natural movement. This project aims to retrain the brain's signals to the vocal cords, hoping to bring back more natural movement. Researchers are looking into how stimulating a specific nerve might help reorganize brain pathways, similar to how it has helped with limb movement in animal models. The goal is to find a way to restore better function to the vocal cord muscles after injury.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: This research is relevant for individuals experiencing vocal fold paralysis or impaired movement due to recurrent laryngeal nerve injury.
Not a fit: Patients whose vocal fold issues are not related to recurrent laryngeal nerve injury or who have other underlying conditions may not directly benefit from this specific approach.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could lead to new treatments that restore more natural vocal fold movement, improving speaking, swallowing, and reducing the risk of aspiration pneumonia for patients with recurrent laryngeal nerve injury.
How similar studies have performed: Preliminary data in animal models suggest that similar nerve stimulation techniques can improve motor input after nerve injury, indicating a promising, though still early, direction for this approach.
Where this research is happening
Richardson, United States
- University of Texas Dallas — Richardson, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Shembel, Adrianna — University of Texas Dallas
- Study coordinator: Shembel, Adrianna
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 below.