Donald Freytes, associate professor in the Lampe Joint Department of Biomedical Engineering, together with his colleagues in the REdesign Lab and partnering universities, received a National Institutes of Health R01 grant for 2.6 million to support a non-invasive, innovative approach to vocal fold repair for patients with voice disorders.
Written by Kathleen Clardy for Lampe Joint BME Communications
Voice disorders impact approximately 20 million Americans each year. Chronic misuse, medical procedures, trauma and aging can cause vocal fold scarring, which can result in voice changes such as hoarseness, voice fatigue and other vocal fold vibration issues. While surgery and voice therapy can repair some of the effects of vocal scarring, current medical procedures cannot resolve all voice limitations with the condition.
Freytes and the REdesign Lab aim to improve patient outcomes with this condition by developing a non-invasive, outpatient treatment that utilizes vocal fold-specific biomolecules to promote wound healing, enabling faster recovery and fewer clinical interventions. Collaborators for this project include Camilo Mora-Navarro, assistant professor of chemical engineering at the University of Puerto Rico–Mayagüez, and Greg Dion, associate professor of clinical physicians scientist at the University of Cincinnati.
The team will develop a vocal fold-derived extract called VFLPx, which inhibits the formation of scar tissue. By optimizing dosing and combining treatment with injection and nebulization of aerosolized extract, the researchers will create a powerful, less invasive therapy for vocal fold and laryngeal scarring.
“Our research seeks to transform how voice disorders are treated by moving away from invasive surgeries and instead harnessing the body’s natural healing processes through biomolecules specifically tailored to the vocal folds,” said Freytes. “We are excited to collaborate with Dr. Camilo Mora-Navarro and Dr. Greg Dion on this effort, aiming to improve millions of lives affected by vocal fold injuries.”
For more information on the REdesign Lab and their work, please visit their lab website here.
A copy of the abstract for “Non-invasive Therapy using Lamina Propria Extract for Vocal Fold Healing” can be found at the National Institutes of Health’s website, located here.