Otolaryngology Research Laboratory

Dr. Suzanne King, Director


Lab Overview

Dr. King’s lab has three primary areas of work.

First, we perform translation studies using animal models to investigate muscle and peripheral nerve injury following radiotherapy that may be leading to dysfunctions in swallowing movement. The lab has developed a preclinical animal model that closely recapitulates the physiological changes associated with radiation injury to upper airway. We use this model to characterize changes in swallowing function, gene and protein expression of the irradiated muscle and nerve, and their impact on quality of life.

Second, we are identifying novel molecular targets for therapeutic intervention that we hope to use to restore or prevent swallowing disorders after radiation treatment.

Third, we perform human clinical studies to learn more about the effects of head and neck cancer treatment on swallowing mobility, fibrosis, and pain.

 

Recent Publications

Characterization of the Leukocyte Response in Acute Vocal Fold Injury. King SN, Guille J, Thibeault SL. PLoS One. 2015 Oct 2;10(10):e0139260. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0139260. eCollection 2015.

Pathophysiology of Radiation-Induced Dysphagia in Head and Neck Cancer. King SN, Dunlap NE, Tennant PA, Pitts T. Dysphagia. 2016 Jun;31(3):339-51. doi: 10.1007/s00455-016-9710-1. Epub 2016 Apr 20. Review.
MERS versus Standard Surgical Approaches for Porcine Vocal Fold Scarring with Adipose Stem Cell Constructs. Woo JH, King SN, Hoffman H, Dailey S, Wang S, Christensen MB, Thibeault SL. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2016 Oct;155(4):612-23. doi: 10.1177/0194599816645772. Epub 2016 May 10.

Macrophage Response to Allogeneic Adipose Tissue-Derived Stromal Cells in Hyaluronan-Based Hydrogel in a Porcine Vocal Fold Injury Model. King SN, Woo JH, Tang S, Thibeault SL. Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol. 2017 Jun;126(6):463-477. doi: 10.1177/0003489417702923. Epub 2017 Apr 6.