Overview

Investigators in the Department of Otolaryngology — Head and Neck Surgery study diseases and conditions of the head and neck, including the ear, nose and throat. Department members have a wide range of expertise and interests across the field but are united by a commitment to improving patient care through research.

Collaborative research to meet clinical needs

Otolaryngology is unique in that specialists care for children and adults, people with acute and chronic conditions, and patients in clinical and surgical settings. Otolaryngologists depend on a group of experts from many different fields working together to deliver complete and comprehensive patient care.

Mirroring these clinical needs, otolaryngology researchers identify long-term solutions to diverse clinical problems, including multiple types of cancer, hearing loss, sinus problems, sleep apnea, voice concerns, and many other diseases and conditions.

Researchers delve into the data provided by Mayo Clinic's high volume of clinical and surgical patients to answer questions that inform best practices in patient care. Some run prospective randomized clinical trials that offer patients access to cutting-edge medical and surgical advances. Others use immunology-based approaches, perform whole-exome or whole-genome sequencing, or advance 3D printing and anatomical modeling technology. Still others leverage powerful machine learning and artificial intelligence tools to find interventions that lead to the best medical and surgical outcomes.

Perhaps most importantly, researchers in the Department of Otolaryngology — Head and Neck Surgery are typically members of multidisciplinary research teams. These collaborations improve the quality and value of investigations by diversifying perspectives, tying in a broad range of skill sets and ultimately increasing the impact research can have on clinical practice.

A diverse, dedicated research team

Physician-researchers and basic scientists alike have built a solid research foundation within Mayo Clinic's Department of Otolaryngology — Head and Neck Surgery. Departmental interests span the breadth of otolaryngology, which is reflected in a diverse research team that includes:

• M.D. and Ph.D. physician-scientists.
• Doctoral-level basic science researchers.
• Machine learning engineers.
• Research trainees.
• Advanced practice clinicians.
• Speech-language pathologists.
• Nurses.
• Clinical research coordinators.
• Statisticians.
• Lab technicians.

The department's faculty and staff are motivated, productive and dedicated to finding solutions to problems that will improve the lives of current and future patients. With researchers involved in nearly every facet of otolaryngology, Mayo Clinic is committed to advancing field-leading science to deliver world-class patient care. In addition to collaborations within the department and with other departments, faculty members work closely with major centers and groups across the institution — including the Mayo Clinic Comprehensive Cancer Center and the Robert D. and Patricia E. Kern Center for the Science of Health Care Delivery, among others — to provide Mayo Clinic patients with cutting-edge research and care.

Funding

Research in the Department of Otolaryngology — Head and Neck Surgery is supported intramurally through the generosity of donors and benefactors. Researchers also have won highly competitive funding, including grants from the National Institutes of Health, the U.S. Department of Defense and private foundations. Investigators also patent discoveries and work closely with industry partners.