Internal Research Studies
SDOH and Health Disparities in airway diseases
Our research on social determinants of health and health disparities focus on identifying gaps and the factors that contribute to these disparities among patients with airway disease as a means of potentially highlighting targets for improving access and treatment to close the gaps.
Chronic Rhinosinusitis Research
Cognitive Function in CRS (R03)
This study aims to understand and describe the problems associated with memory, language, thinking, or judgment in patients with chronic sinus disease, a condition with long lasting symptoms of nasal congestion and inflammation in the sinuses.
With a goal to characterize cognitive function profile in both healthy controls and patients with chronic inflammation in upper airways; and identify those at risk of impaired cognition; as well as identify the preventable risk factors of cognitive impairment including sleep timing shift; and to test the hypothesis that serum IL-6 has a role in this process and may serve as a biomarker for cognitive impairment in CRS.
Sleep in CRS:
Our research aims to uncover the CRS related factors that contribute to sleep disruption and cognitive function impairment in CRS by analyzing possible factors – specifically IL-6 and hypoxic events at night. We will also, for the first time, study the cognitive function of CRS patients with sleep disruption by thorough comprehensive and objective tests.
Nasal Microbiome in Upper Airway Diseases:
The purpose of this study is to understand if the combination of microbes (bacteria and fungus) in the airways, nose and gut (rectum) play a role in sinus disease. We will only analyze data and specimens.
We aim to investigate the role of microbial composition and the effect of various treatment measures, demographics and comorbid conditions of the microbiome in upper airways (nasopharyngeal cavity). The focus is on patients with chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) as compared with controls without CRS. The comorbid ENT conditions associated with CRS include obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and laryngopharyngeal reflux disease (LPRD).
In this research we also aim to understand the effects of different standard of care treatments on nasopharyngeal microbiome. These treatments include CPAP therapy and oral appliance therapy for OSA; surgery, and topical steroid rinses for CRS, and proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) on laryngeal microbiota in comorbid LPRD.