James Daniero, MD (left) and Donald Griffin, PhD in research lab.
James Daniero, MD, an associate professor in the Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Laryngology Division, and his collaborators were recently awarded two NIH grants totaling $3.1 million to study the ability of advanced biomaterials to restore voice and speech function.
James Daniero, MD (left) and Donald Griffin, PhD
Dr. Daniero is a co-principal investigator with Donald Griffin, PhD, an associate professor in the Department of Biomedical Engineering, on a R01 project titled, “Translating a biostimulatory implant for the long-term treatment of glottic insufficiency.” The novel formulation of porous hydrogel called Microporous Annealed Particle Hydrogel (MAP gel) was designed in collaboration with Dr. Griffin to reproduce the delicate tissues of the vocal cord that produce one’s voice. The proposal aims to develop assays of the delicate new tissue purposefully built in the voice box and lay the groundwork for a first-in-human clinical trial of vocal cord reconstruction. This work is supported by the National Institute on Deafness and other Communication Disorders.
Kazlin Mason PhD, SLP-CCC
In a related study, Dr. Daniero is also a co-principal investigator with Kazlin Mason PhD, SLP-CCC, an assistant professor of speech communication disorders in the University of Virginia’s School of Education and Human Development, on a R21 titled, “Novel Implementation of Microporous Annealed Particle HydroGel for Next-generation Posterior Pharyngeal Wall Augmentation.” The project proposal uses 3D modeling to assess MAP gel’s ability to treat the velopharyngeal insufficiency associated with cleft and craniofacial conditions, particularly related to pharyngeal wall augmentation. This work is supported by the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research.