Vitamin A and vocal fold keratin buildup (vocal cord leukoplakia)
Pathophysiological profiling of vocal fold hyperkeratosis
This project looks at whether low vitamin A contributes to keratin buildup on the vocal cords and whether vitamin A treatments could help people with vocal cord leukoplakia.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Wisconsin-Madison NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Madison, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11248389 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You would have your blood checked for vitamin A levels and your vocal fold lesion examined to look for links between deficiency and keratin buildup. Clinicians will study tissue samples under the microscope to describe the lesion structure and relate that to vitamin A status. In parallel, researchers will use a rat model to track how vitamin A moves to and is taken up by normal and hyperkeratotic vocal fold tissue. The goal is to develop non-destructive, vitamin A–based options that might reduce the need for surgery and help preserve your voice.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are adults with vocal fold hyperkeratosis/leukoplakia who are experiencing voice changes and are willing to provide blood and clinical tissue samples at the Madison clinic.
Not a fit: People with lesions already diagnosed as invasive cancer or who need immediate surgical removal are unlikely to benefit from vitamin A–based conservative approaches as an alternative to standard care.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to vitamin A–based treatments that reduce the need for destructive biopsies or surgeries and help protect patients' voices.
How similar studies have performed: Vitamin A is known to support epithelial health and has been linked to hyperkeratosis in other tissues, but applying vitamin A therapy specifically to vocal fold leukoplakia is a relatively new and not yet proven approach.
Where this research is happening
Madison, United States
- University of Wisconsin-Madison — Madison, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Welham, Nathan — University of Wisconsin-Madison
- Study coordinator: Welham, Nathan
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.