# Optimal Tissue Engineering Approach for Treating Injured Vocal Folds

> **NIH NIH R01** · NORTH CAROLINA STATE UNIVERSITY RALEIGH · 2020 · $495,173

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY
Voice impairment is the most common communication disorder with nearly 20 million people in the US reporting
symptoms of dysphonia annually. The cost of treatment and lost wages for this disorder is approaching $13
billion. The etiology of these disorders is diverse, but given their anatomic location, the vocal folds (VFs) are
susceptible to a multitude of injurious stimuli, including reflux of gastric contents, iatrogenic injury, and the
inherent trauma associated with voice production. Injury can result in altered lamina propria (LP) architecture
resulting in aberrant phonatory physiology. To date, no treatment restores the native VF extracellular matrix
(ECM) composition, structure, and function following VF injury which likely underlies suboptimal outcomes for
patients with VF scar.
ECMs, if appropriately processed, can be used as resorbable, clinically safe, and naturally derived biomaterials
that promote tissue remodeling while reducing fibrosis. Injectable ECM hydrogels are ideal for clinical application
and cell delivery, particularly given the emerging practice and distinct advantages of in-office procedures using
minimally invasive approaches. Work from our group and others provide promising data regarding the role of
decellularized vocal fold lamina propria (VFLP-ECM) as an injectable agent or as a delivery vehicle for
therapeutic cells such as mesenchymal stem cells. We broadly hypothesize that VFLP-ECM hydrogels (with or
without stem cells) will promote functional repair of the VFs.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9816623
- **Project number:** 5R01DC017139-02
- **Recipient organization:** NORTH CAROLINA STATE UNIVERSITY RALEIGH
- **Principal Investigator:** Donald O Freytes
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $495,173
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2018-12-01 → 2023-11-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9816623

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9816623, Optimal Tissue Engineering Approach for Treating Injured Vocal Folds (5R01DC017139-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9816623. Licensed CC0.

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