Next-generation clinical profiling for laryngeal dystonia and voice tremor
Official title: Next-generation clinical phenotyping and pathophysiology of laryngeal dystonia and voice tremor
Funded at Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary · NIH-11389177 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A multi-site program is exploring what makes laryngeal dystonia and voice tremor different from other conditions, aiming to improve diagnosis and targeted treatments for people affected by these voice disorders.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project start | September 15, 2021 |
| Project end | August 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $1,676,200 |
| NIH project number | 5P50DC019900-06 |
| Project ID | NIH-11389177 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are individuals diagnosed with laryngeal dystonia or voice tremor who can participate in multi-site clinical assessments and imaging studies.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not have LD or VT or who cannot participate in longitudinal clinical assessments or imaging may not benefit.
What this research studies
This NIH-published grant supports a multi-institution effort to detail the clinical features and brain-based causes of laryngeal dystonia and voice tremor. Researchers will collect and analyze patient data across centers to distinguish LD from VT and to understand their neural underpinnings. The project plans to create a shared framework for better diagnosis and more precise, disorder-specific therapies beyond current botulinum toxin approaches. Patients may benefit from earlier, more accurate diagnoses and tailored treatment strategies as findings translate into clinical practice.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could lead to clearer diagnoses and more effective, customized treatments for LD and VT.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work has advanced understanding in LD/VT, but this Center aims to integrate clinical and neural data to establish a comprehensive framework, representing a novel, broader approach.
Where this research is happening
-
Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Simonyan, Kristina — Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary
- Study coordinator: Simonyan, Kristina
Related research
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Using deep brain stimulation to improve voice control in patients with movement disorders
This study is looking at how a treatment called deep brain stimulation can help people with movement disorders, like laryngeal dystonia and essential tremor, improve their voice control while they talk, so they can better understand how the brain affects voice production and find new ways to help those struggling with
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Exploring brain function in voice disorders like laryngeal dystonia and voice tremor
This study is looking at how the brain helps people with laryngeal dystonia and voice tremor speak, using special brain scans to find out what’s happening in their brains during speech, so we can better understand these conditions and improve treatment options for those affected.
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.