The Johns Hopkins Department of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery continues to demonstrate strong momentum in research excellence, collaboration and innovation. With 60 tenure-track faculty members — including 11 basic science investigators — the department maintains a robust and diverse research portfolio that spans basic discovery, translational science, clinical investigation, health services research and surgical education.

Despite persistent challenges facing the national research enterprise in 2025, the department successfully secured competitive funding across multiple domains, reflecting both scientific rigor and clinical relevance. Support was awarded through the National Institutes of Health (NIH), private foundations, professional societies, institutional initiatives and multicenter clinical trials. NIH funding included awards from the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, the National Institute on Aging and the National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering. In addition, the department received support through a collaborative grant jointly funded by the National Science Foundation and The Kavli Foundation, underscoring the department’s strength in interdisciplinary research.

Advancing the Next Generation of Physician-Scientists

Resident scholarship remains a cornerstone of the department’s academic mission. The American Academy of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery Foundation awarded CORE Resident Research Grants to three Johns Hopkins otolaryngology residents, recognizing projects that address critical gaps in patient care and scientific understanding:

• Elaine Thompson, M.D., was recognized for her project exploring the impact of communication on disparities in pediatric obstructive sleep apnea, with a focus on equity and patient-centered outcomes.
• Tiffany Toni, M.D., received support for her investigation into the role of key neurotrophic factors in osteogenesis within PCL-DCB scaffolds, advancing the field of tissue engineering and regenerative medicine.
• Brennan McMichael, M.D., was awarded funding for her work on a novel biomarker for facial nerve disruption and regenerative potential, with implications for improved diagnosis and recovery following nerve injury.

These awards reflect the department’s commitment to fostering rigorous research training and mentoring residents as future leaders in academic otolaryngology.

Faculty-Led Innovation and Interdisciplinary Collaboration

Faculty investigators across the department continue to lead high-impact research initiatives that integrate clinical expertise with innovation across disciplines:

• Leila Mady, M.D., Ph.D., M.P.H., received a Hopkins Business of Health Initiative Pilot Grant for her project examining financial toxicity in cancer care. Conducted in collaboration with Sudip Gupta, Ph.D., of the Johns Hopkins Carey Business School, this work leverages real-world data to better understand the economic burden faced by patients with cancer and inform more equitable models of care.
• An internal research award through the Johns Hopkins Institute for Data-Intensive Engineering and Science (IDIES) supported the project Artificial Intelligence–Aided Video-Based Assessment of Mastoidectomy Surgical Skills.
  Francis Creighton, M.D., serves as principal investigator, with George Liu, M.D., Jenny X. Chen, M.D., Ed.M., and Mathias Unberath, Ph.D., associate professor of computer science, as co-investigators. This work integrates artificial intelligence and surgical education to advance objective assessment of technical skill acquisition.
• Jenny X. Chen, M.D., Ed.M., received support from the American Board of Medical Specialties for her project focused on developing and validating a professionalism assessment instrument for Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery. This national initiative is being conducted in collaboration with the American Board of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery and aims to strengthen standards for professional development and evaluation within the specialty.
• Amanda Lauer, Ph.D., was awarded funding through the Neurobiology in Changing Ecosystems initiative, a collaborative effort supported by The Kavli Foundation and the National Science Foundation. Working alongside Cynthia Moss, Ph.D., and Kishore Kuchibhotla, Ph.D., this research examines how neural specializations in species such as bats and mice confer resilience to anthropogenic noise. The findings are expected to inform protective strategies for the auditory system, with translational relevance to both human health and wildlife conservation in increasingly noisy environments.

Expanding Evidence Through Clinical Trials

Clinical research remains a defining strength of the department. Alexander Hillel, M.D., is leading a multicenter, prospective, randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled clinical trial titled ASTRO: Adjuvant STeRoid Injection Outcomes in Idiopathic Subglottic Stenosis (iSGS).

Developed in close partnership with both patient advocates and clinician stakeholders, this study represents the first placebo-controlled interventional trial in iSGS. The trial is designed to rigorously evaluate the safety and efficacy of serial intralesional steroid injections, addressing a long-standing gap in evidence for the management of this rare airway disorder. The results are anticipated to provide a foundation for evidence-based clinical practice and inform future standards of care.

Recognition of Investigator Excellence

The department also celebrates the achievements of individual investigators whose work continues to advance the field of hearing and auditory neuroscience:

• Philippe Vincent, Ph.D., research associate, secured multiple competitive research awards as principal investigator for projects focused on synaptic regeneration and functional recovery in the auditory system. His work aims to develop and validate tools for assessing regenerated ribbon synapses and to evaluate synaptic function between inner ear hair cells and sensory neuron progenitors.
• George Liu, M.D., received internal research support through the IDIES Seed Fund Program for his role as co-principal investigator on the Artificial Intelligence–Aided Video-Based Assessment of Mastoidectomy Surgical Skills project, further strengthening the department’s leadership in technology-enhanced surgical education.