NIH-funded research NIH-funded research

Personalized surgery for children with obstructive sleep apnea and small tonsils

Official title: A Personalized Surgical Approach for the Treatment of Children with Obstructive Sleep Apnea and Small Tonsils

Funded at Oregon Health & Science University · NIH-10931337 · Data updated 2026-11-12

This study is looking at a new way to help kids with obstructive sleep apnea, especially those with small tonsils, by comparing a personalized surgery to the usual tonsil removal surgery, to see which one works better for them.

Quick facts

Grant typeNIH-funded research
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionOregon Health & Science University
NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Portland, United States)
Project startSeptember 20, 2023
Project endAugust 31, 2025
Funding year2024
Award (this year)$324,317
NIH project number5R61HL162771-02
Project IDNIH-10931337 on NIH RePORTER

Who could benefit from this research

Could help

Ideal candidates for this research are children aged 2 to 18 years who have been diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea and have clinically small tonsils.

Less likely to help

Patients who do not have obstructive sleep apnea or those with enlarged tonsils may not benefit from this research.

What this research studies

This research investigates a new surgical approach for treating obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in children, particularly those with small tonsils. It aims to determine if a personalized surgical method, guided by drug-induced sleep endoscopy (DISE), is more effective than the standard treatment of adenotonsillectomy (AT). By observing the specific patterns of airway obstruction during sleep, the study seeks to tailor surgical interventions to individual needs, potentially improving outcomes for affected children. The research will involve a randomized controlled trial comparing these two surgical strategies in children aged 2 to 18 years.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to more effective surgical treatments for children with obstructive sleep apnea, improving their quality of life and reducing associated health risks.

How similar studies have gone: While the use of drug-induced sleep endoscopy has shown promise in adults, this personalized approach in children is novel and has not been extensively tested.

Where this research is happening

  • Oregon Health & Science University
    Portland, United States
    Active

Researchers

  • Principal investigator: Lam, Derek J — Oregon Health & Science University
  • Study coordinator: Lam, Derek J

Related research

Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.
Last reviewed 2026-11-14 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.