FACULTY RESEARCH ACTIVITIES

The research activities within the Clinical and Research Divisions of the Department of Otolaryngology are broadly encompassing in scope and vary considerably in the level of description.

Research within the Clinical Division

Research within the Clinical Division covers areas ranging from computer based informatics to cellular studies of Otology, Rhinology and Laryngology.

• Ronald W. Deskin, M.D., a pediatric otolaryngologist is interested in otitis media and pediatric airway problems.
• Shawn D. Newlands, M.D., Ph.D. (Clinical and Research Divisions), is interested in compensation of the central nervous system pathways to insults of the peripheral vestibular apparatus. Dr Newlands uses neurophysiological and neuroanatomical techniques and primate/rodent models to study the response of the vestibular apparatus to motion and surgically induced insults.
• Francis B. Quinn, Jr., M.D., has two distinct research areas. The first is concerned with inter-observer variability in examination of the head and neck, particularly as it involves head and neck malignancy. His second research emphasis is on the use of the computer as a necessary physician tool in clinical practice. The investigations include determining ways in which clinical tools, particularly the electronic medical record, facilitate clinic otolaryngologic practice.
• Matthew W. Ryan, M.D. conducts studies related to the pathogenesis of sinonasal inflammation and treatment of sinusitis. Dr. Ryan uses DNA micro array analysis to identify gene expression patterns in nasal polyposis and other chronic sinonasal inflammatory disease processes. The role of T cells in sinonasal inflammation is also being investigated. Finally, he is performing studies of topical agents on nasal physiology.

Research activities within the Research Division

Research activities within the Research Division of the Department of Otolaryngology focus on the vestibular apparatus - the inner ear sensory organ of balance.

• Bernd U. Budelmann, Ph.D. studies equilibrium orientation in cephalopods. Recently, Dr. Budlemann’s research has focused on the effects of the neuro-transmitters/neuro-modulators as well as of cannabinoids, on the neural activity of the cephalopod vestibular apparatus.
• Manning J. Correia, Ph.D. has, during the past decade, studied vestibular sensory cells (hair cells) and the primary afferents and efferents that innervate them. He uses the techniques of electrophysiology, immunohistochemistry and molecular biology to study the nicotinic and muscarinic acetylcholine receptors as well as potassium, sodium and calcium ion channels in the hair cell membrane.
• Galen D. Kaufman, D.V.M., Ph.D. is interested in the molecular basis of sensorimotor plasticity. Currently, Dr. Kaufmann is using early genes and inducible transcription factors, ITFs in particular (e.g. Fos) to explore the relationships between ITFs and vestibulo-ocular adaptation in rodents.
• Golda Anne Kevetter Leonard, Ph.D. uses neuroanatomical and immunohistological techniques to describe morphological substrates underlying vestibular influences on the maintenance of posture, muscle tone, reflexes, and execution of volitional movements. Her research has focused on vestibular afferents and her interests include structural-functional correlations of the vestibular nerve, physiological characteristics of subgroups of the nerve, and changes that occur during aging.
• Adrian A. Perachio, Ph.D. conducts research centered on the neurophysiology of central and peripheral vestibular afferent and efferent pathways. His research on systems physiology focuses on the neurophysiology of the otolith neurons in primates. His cellular research uses cellular markers to identify pathways involved in neural plasticity and the circuits involved in vestibular compensation.