HOME >> BIOLOGY >> NEWS
New UD tissue-engineering research focuses on vocal cords

Damaged or diseased vocal cords can forever change and even silence the voices we love, from a family member's to a famous personality's.

Julie Andrews, who starred in such classics as The Sound of Music, is among the professional singers who have undergone surgery to remove callus-like growths that can form from overuse of these two small, stretchy bands of tissue housed in the larynx, or voice box. Sadly, Andrews may never fully recover her singing voice after surgery on her vocal cords in 1997.

Engineering pliable, new vocal cord tissue to replace scarred, rigid tissue in these petite, yet powerful organs is the goal of a new University of Delaware research project. It is funded by a five-year, $1.8 million grant from the National Institutes of Health's National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders.

Xinqiao Jia, UD assistant professor of materials science and engineering, is leading the project. Jia's research focuses on developing intelligent biomaterials that closely mimic the molecular composition, mechanical responsiveness and nanoscale organization of natural extracellular matrices--the structural materials that serve as scaffolding for cells. These novel biomaterials, combined with defined biophysical cues and biological factors, are being used for functional tissue regeneration.

Randall Duncan, associate professor of biological sciences and mechanical engineering at UD and an expert in cellular biomechanics and signal transduction, is a co-investigator on the project. He will assist the interdisciplinary research team in determining how vocal cord cells respond to mechanical forces, which is the first step in engineering functional vocal cord tissue. Duncan is actively involved in Jia's career development as her senior mentor at UD.

Rodney Clifton, professor of engineering at Brown University and a member of the National Academy of Engineering, is providing the project with a unique te
'"/>

Contact: Tracey Bryant
tbryant@udel.edu
302-831-8185
University of Delaware
31-Jul-2007


Page: 1 2 3

Related biology news :

1. NIH gives $8M to University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine for myositis research
2. Saudi Arabias KAUST names WHOI first research partner
3. Multinational research: protecting ecology means understanding people, too
4. Newly created cancer stem cells could aid breast cancer research
5. Carnegie Mellons Peter Adams receives EPA research grant
6. Almac Diagnostics announces pioneering genetic research on ductal carcinoma in situ
7. Innovative tagging technique may help researchers better protect fish stocks
8. Penn researchers discover how key protein stops inflammation
9. UCF research links proteins, stem cells and potential Alzheimers treatment
10. ASU researchers partner with UOP to make biofuel for military jets a reality
11. Einstein researchers prototype vaccine could provide improved protection against tuberculosis

Post Your Comments:
*Name:
*Comment:
*Email:
TAG: New tissue engineering research focuses vocal cords

(Date:5/18/2013)... (May 18, 2013) Research presented at Digestive ... digestive health through diet and lifestyle. , ... by reduced muscle strength, fatigue and poor quality ... patients are in remission. A randomized, double blind, ... vitamin D supplementation corresponded to significant relief of ...
(Date:5/17/2013)... AGA Research Foundation announced a new grant that intends ... microbiota, one of today,s most exciting areas of science, ... Research Awards Panel selected Andrew T. Chan, MD, MPH ... Medical School, Boston, as the 2013 AGA-Elsevier Gut Microbiome ... of funding, commencing in July 2013, to test the ...
(Date:5/17/2013)... Jersey, and City University of New York have invented ... effectively clears organisms to be viewed under microscopes. Visikol ... is one of the few high-quality clearing solutions currently ... Enforcement Administration (DEA) due to its use as a ... for viewing organisms under a microscope. Without them, microscope ...
Breaking Biology News(10 mins):Research examines new methods for managing digestive health 2Research examines new methods for managing digestive health 3New gut microbiome research to explore red meat -- colorectal cancer pathway 2New formula invented for microscope viewing, substitutes for federally controlled drug 2New formula invented for microscope viewing, substitutes for federally controlled drug 3
(Date:5/17/2013)... RURO Inc. is pleased to announce ... refinement to the smart management solution. , ezColony, ... methodical management for transgenic animal colonies, genotyping and ... platform provides user access with a plethora of ... emphasize streamlined tasks, such as animal relocation to ...
(Date:5/16/2013)... 2013 The Stirling Ultracold Model ... Inc., Athens, OH, USA, won the Outstanding New Product ... Society for Biological and Environmental Repositories (ISBER) at their ... one product annually, recognizes the company’s development and introduction ... The award was presented to Global Cooling’s CEO ...
(Date:5/16/2013)... 2013 A new selection of ... Cole-Parmer is designed to meet the dynamic needs ... The new Cole-Parmer® MS-3400 Centrifuges are ... lab. They ensure a powerful and complete separation ... Their standard four-place swinging buckets hold 50-mL tubes. ...
(Date:5/16/2013)... , May 16, 2013  The registration deadline has ... Financial Officers (ABFO) 2013 National Conference, the premier conference ... May 28-31 at the Hilton San Diego Bayfront. ... this year,s conference and want to make sure as ... said Brandi Roberts , Chief Financial ...
Breaking Biology Technology:RURO Introduces ezColony 4.1 – The Versatile Transgenic Animal Colony Management Software 2Stirling Ultracold Ultra-Low Freezer Wins 2013 Outstanding New Product Award at International Biorepository Conference, Sydney, Australia 2Cole-Parmer Offers Enhanced Selection of Centrifuges 2Registration Extended Until May 22 for Association of Bioscience Financial Officers (ABFO) 2013 National Conference -- San Diego 2Registration Extended Until May 22 for Association of Bioscience Financial Officers (ABFO) 2013 National Conference -- San Diego 3Registration Extended Until May 22 for Association of Bioscience Financial Officers (ABFO) 2013 National Conference -- San Diego 4
Cached News: