Dr. Ryan Branski: Therapeutics For The Vocal Chords

RUSK Insights on Rehabilitation Medicine

Dr. Ryan Branski is the Howard A. Rusk Associate Professor of Rehabilitation Research and the Vice Chair for Research in Rehabilitation Medicine at the NYU Grossman School of Medicine. He also has appointments in Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery in the school of medicine and Communicative Sciences and Disorders in the Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development. Dr. Branski runs a productive research enterprise encompassing both clinical and laboratory initiatives. His NIH-funded laboratory primarily focuses on wound healing and regenerative approaches to optimized healing in the upper aerodigestive track. Dr. Branski is one of only a few investigators to be named Fellow of the American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, the American Speech Language Hearing Association, and the American Laryngological Association.

In Part 1 of his presentation, Dr. Branski discussed how efforts are underway to push research over the top in productivity at NYU. It is important to consider the economic implications of research. Obtaining external support is not easy and we should celebrate those accomplishments when funding is obtained. Voice disorders are the single most common communication disorder across the lifespan. He mentioned the importance of Reinke’s space and his contributions in describing the layered structure of the vocal folds. He indicated how challenging it is to deal with the problem of vocal fold necrosis.

In Part 2 of his presentation, Dr. Branski discussed voice research, an area of investigation that not only poses the most opportunities, but also the most obstacles. He also mentioned developments in addressing tissue deficits in the airway. He closed on the theme that research needs to be opportunistic and that what is of value in this institution is to enhance communication between the thousand clinicians at NYU and the researchers.

A Q & A period followed.