Muscle stem cells to repair paralyzed vocal cords
Official title: Treatment of Vocal Fold Paralysis with Muscle Progenitor Cells
Funded at Washington University · NIH-11292852 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project uses muscle-derived stem cells to rebuild and strengthen paralyzed vocal cords in adults with vocal fold paralysis.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Washington University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Saint Louis, United States) |
| Project start | March 1, 2025 |
| Project end | February 28, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $640,642 |
| NIH project number | 5R01DC021830-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11292852 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with unilateral or bilateral vocal fold paralysis due to recurrent laryngeal nerve injury would be the most relevant candidates for future trials based on this work.
✕Less likely to help
People whose voice symptoms are caused by structural laryngeal lesions, non-neurological conditions, or who are children may not benefit from this treatment approach.
What this research studies
Researchers will grow muscle progenitor (stem) cells from healthy skeletal muscle, then implant those cells into paralyzed vocal fold muscles in a well-established dog model to see if the cells become part of the muscle and improve strength and nerve recovery. They will repeat promising experiments and modify implantation conditions to better match how paralysis occurs in people. Outcomes will include measures of laryngeal muscle strength, nerve regrowth, breathing and swallowing function related to voice and airway. Success in the canine model would support moving this approach toward future human clinical trials.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could restore vocal fold movement and strength, improving voice, swallowing, and breathing and reducing the need for implants or tracheotomy.
How similar studies have gone: Previous animal and laboratory studies have shown that muscle progenitor cells can engraft and improve laryngeal muscle strength and nerve recovery, but human testing remains limited.
Where this research is happening
-
Washington University
Saint Louis, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Paniello, Randal C — Washington University
- Study coordinator: Paniello, Randal C
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Neuromuscular Junction Problems in Hyperkalemic Paralysis
A clinician-scientist is pursuing five years of advanced training and research to better understand and care for people with neuromuscular diseases related to hyperkalemic paralysis.
-
Restoring movement after paralysis with AI-powered copilots
A patient-facing AI-aided system would help people with paralysis perform everyday tasks by interpreting the user’s intent and guiding assistive robots.
-
CoPE II: Personalizing patient-reported outcomes for vocal fold paralysis care
Aimed at tailoring patient-reported outcome measures to each person with unilateral vocal fold paralysis to better guide treatment decisions.
-
Mobile brain-computer interface to help veterans with paralysis control devices
Aimed at improving a mobile brain-computer interface to help veterans with paralysis better control assistive devices at home.
-
Preventing awareness during paralysis in emergency ventilated patients and reducing PTSD
This project will change emergency department medication defaults to cut back on a paralytic drug and see if that lowers the chance that adults put on ventilators wake up while paralyzed and later develop PTSD.
-
Brain-controlled device to restore movement after paralysis
This project works to turn signals from two brain areas into controls so people with tetraplegia can steer devices or robotic limbs more naturally.
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.