Funding News - Persons with Dysphagia Sought for Research Studies

Investigators at the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) are seeking persons with dysphagia to participate in research studies to determine the feasibility of using hyolaryngeal muscle stimulation to prevent aspiration during swallowing. This protocol will include individuals who have chronic pharyngeal dysphagia and have been instructed not to take food by mouth or are on a restricted diet. The outcome of this study will be relevant to future use of neuromuscular stimulation for laryngeal elevation in patients with pharyngeal dysphagia.

Individuals may qualify if they are 18-80 years of age, have intact cognition and hearing for communication, and have had chronic pharyngeal dysphagia for more than six months, penetration or aspiration of foods or liquids, or coughing.

The study involvesone three-day inpatient visit to the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Clinical Center in Bethesda, MD. All study-related expenses will be paid by the NIH. The studies will be carried out under testing and safety standards of the Department of Health and Human Services.

For more information, interested persons may contact Ianessa Humbert, 10 Center Drive MSC 1416, Building 10, Room 5D38, Bethesda, MD 20892-1416; telephone: (301) 402-1109; e-mail: humberti@ninds.nih.gov.