Understanding Vocal Fold Damage Using a Lab Model
A Hydrogel-Based Cellular Model of the Human Vocal Fold
['FUNDING_R01'] · UNIVERSITY OF DELAWARE · NIH-11063784
This project creates a tiny lab model of human vocal folds to better understand how they get damaged and to find new ways to help people with vocal scarring.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_R01'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | UNIVERSITY OF DELAWARE (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (Newark, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11063784 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
Voice problems often happen when the delicate tissue in your vocal folds gets scarred, making it hard to speak clearly. This project is building a special "organ chip" in the lab that acts like a tiny human vocal fold. This chip will help us see how damage to the outer layer of the vocal fold starts the scarring process. By understanding these steps, we hope to discover new and better ways to treat vocal fold scarring and improve voice health.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Patients who experience vocal fold scarring due to various factors could potentially benefit from future treatments developed through this research.
Not a fit: Patients whose voice problems are not related to vocal fold scarring or fibrosis may not directly benefit from this specific research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to new and more effective treatments for vocal fold scarring, helping people regain their voice quality.
How similar studies have performed: While the general mechanisms of fibrosis are known from other diseases, this specific microengineered vocal fold model is a novel approach to understanding vocal fold scarring.
Where this research is happening
Newark, UNITED STATES
- UNIVERSITY OF DELAWARE — Newark, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: JIA, XINQIAO — UNIVERSITY OF DELAWARE
- Study coordinator: JIA, XINQIAO
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.