The EENT Foundation
Competitive Biomedical Research Grant Program
for New Orleans
Grant awards since program inception in 2022:
Research and Research Fellowship Grants, $4.0 million
Capital Equipment Grants, $2.2 million
Total Awarded, $6.2 million
Research Grant Awards
July 2022 - Ochsner Clinic Foundation, Department of Otorhinolaryngology
Interpretation of Nasal Endoscopy Using Machine Learning - Three years, $300,418, McCoul, Edward
Nasal endoscopy is a common procedure in otolaryngology clinical practice, yet the interpretation is subject to the limitations of human perception and lack of standardization. The aim is to develop and test a process using machine learning technology that can identify and distinguish normal from abnormal findings encountered during the endoscopic examination of the nasal cavity. The ultimate goal is to enable computer-assisted diagnosis of common sinonasal conditions.
July 2022 - Tulane University School of Medicine, Department of Microbiology and Immunology
Sjögren's Syndrome A-type Retroviral Particle: Genomics, Proteomics, and Diagnostics - Three years, $375,000, Garry, Robert F. and Melnik, Lilia I.
Human intracisternal A-type retroviral particle (HIAP-I) is a virus that has been associated with development of Sjögren's Syndrome, a serious disease that causes not only severe dry eyes and mouth, but can affect the whole body. We propose to use modern technologies not available when we first discovered the virus to provide critical information about HIAP-I. This detailed information about the genes and proteins of HIAP-I will be used to develop improved diagnostics and novel therapeutics and vaccines against Sjögren’s Syndrome and related diseases.
July 2022 - Tulane University School of Medicine, Department of Physiology and Medicine
Non-Coding RNAs as Therapeutic Targets for Diabetic Retinopathy - Three years, $431,250, Woods, Thomas Cooper
Diabetic retinopathy is the number one cause of blindness in the United States. These studies will provide important information as to how diabetes changes the way the cells in the arteries communicate with each other and how this leads to the retinopathy. In doing so, they will identify new targets for therapies aimed at preventing this complication of diabetes.
Interpretation of Nasal Endoscopy Using Machine Learning (Supplement) - Three years, $642,209, McCoul, Edward
The interpretation of nasal endoscopy findings using machine learning has the potential to improve and optimize patient care. We aim to further enhance this process by designing an active learning model, establishing clinical and technical requirements for interface with nasal endoscopy equipment, and developing clinical decision support software and hardware to enable implementation in the clinical setting.
August 2022 - Ochsner Clinic Foundation, Department of Otorhinolaryngology
August 2022 - Tulane University School of Medicine, Department of Physiology and Medicine
Non-Coding RNAs as Therapeutic Targets for Diabetic Retinopathy (Supplement) - Three years, $257,012, Woods, Thomas Cooper
Diabetic retinopathy is the number one cause of blindness in the United States. These studies will provide important information as to how diabetes changes the way the cells in the arteries communicate with each other and how this leads to the retinopathy. These data will have a significant positive impact as they will identify a potential diagnostic test to determine those at greatest risk of vision loss in the diabetic population.
November 2022 - Tulane University Department of Cell and Molecular Biology and Department of Biomedical Engineering
Generation of a Novel Vascularized Retina-on-a-Chip Microphysiological Model - Three years, $477,032, Fang, Jennifer and Mondrinos, Mark
Several retinopathies involve retinal blood vessel dysregulation and overgrowth that causes retinal dysfunction and can lead to vision impairment. In this project, we will develop a novel microphysiological model of healthy and diseased outer retina and associated choroid blood vessels. If successful, the novel vascularized retina-on-a-chip microphysiological model developed through this project will serve as a powerful new tool to significantly advance our overall understanding of healthy and diseased retinal biology, as well as identify new treatments for patients with retinopathy.
March 2023 - Tulane University Department of Cell and Molecular Biology
Targeting RPE Senescence for Age-Related Macular Degeneration - Three years, $143,750, Zhou, Qi and Wang, Shusheng
Advanced age and cigarette smoking (CS) are two major risk factors for the development of age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Aging and CS both lead to the accumulation of senescent cells in the body. The goal to the proposal is to test mitochondria as potential target for cellular aging (or senescence) and AMD.
March 2023 - Ochsner Clinic Foundation, Department of Otorhinolaryngology
Mucosal Allergy of the Eustachian Tube - Two years, $120,833, McCoul, Edward and Manik, Manal
The pathophysiology of Eustachian tube dysfunction (ETD) is poorly understood, though an allergic mechanism has been proposed. We aim to test the mucosa of the Eustachian tube for the presence of specific antibodies that would support a role for allergic hypersensitivity in the development of ETD in the adult population.
March 2023 - Louisiana State University Health Science Center, Neuroscience Center of Excellence
BrainXell neuron kits and bioinformatics software - Materials and supplies, $118,201, Bazan, Nicholas
Using BrainXell neurons and bioinformatics software to support study of the hippocampus to further explore disease mechanisms and avenues for intervention to protect vision and cognition in age-related macular degeneration, Alzheimer’s disease, and Parkinson’s disease.
June 2023 - Ochsner Clinic Foundation, Department of Otorhinolaryngology
Application of Nasal Endoscopy Machine Learning in Clinical Practice (Supplement) - Two years, $290,286, McCoul, Edward
Proof-of-concept for a machine-learning-enabled endoscope has been demonstrated in PI’s prior work. The aim of this study is to advance this research by expanding the available dataset to include endoscopy video data, integrating three-dimensional visual odometry, developing and testing an endoscope hardware interface, and developing software to allow a continuous development workflow with an electronic medical record.
September 2023 - Ochsner Clinic Foundation, Department of Otorhinolaryngology
pH Monitoring in the Nasopharynx to Assist in the Diagnosis of the Cause of Postnasal Drainage - Three years, $148,264, Barton, Blair
Post-nasal drainage is a common cause for a visit to an otolaryngologist, and usually is caused by exposure of the nose to acidic stomach contents. There is no simple, non-invasive way to confirm this diagnosis. In this study the environment of the nasal cavity will be assessed for exposure to the acidic contents of the stomach using a non-invasive pH probe placed in the nasopharynx for 24 hours.
November 2023 - Ochsner Clinic Foundation, Department of Otorhinolaryngology
Omnibus Research Scientist for Otorhinolaryngologic Clinical Research - Two years, $287,040, McCoul, Edward
This award supports an ENT-specific research scientist to facilitate the development and conduct of investigator-initiated studies and to augment the research capabilities of the clinical staff in the Department of Otorhinolaryngology at Ochsner Health.
March 2024 - Tulane University Department of Cell and Molecular Biology
Elucidating PDGFRA-Regulated Blood Vessel Formation During Craniofacial Development - Three years, $374,514, He, Fenglei
The proposed research will contribute to uncovering blood vessel malformation as a novel etiology of orofacial cleft and to illuminating fundamental mechanisms of cranial blood vessel formation.