Grant Funding

Vanderbilt Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery is committed to making discoveries that impact patient's lives and set new standards for medical care. Our program typically ranks third to fifth* in the nation for National Institute of Health (NIH) research grant funding. The program's extensive and diverse portfolio sets Vanderbilt apart as a leader in the otolaryngology research field.

Vanderbilt Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery has an impressive breadth of research. More than 90% of Vanderbilt Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery NIH grants are collaborative grants with other Vanderbilt programs, such as:

These collaborations have led to ground-breaking discoveries and NIH grants in a variety of areas, including cochlear implants, speech therapy, and restoration of speech in individuals. Researchers also have access to the resources, education, training and support of the Vanderbilt Institute for Clinical and Translational Research.

_{*As reported by Blue Ridge Institute for Medical Research, an independent organization that assesses how much funding is awarded to a particular institution and individual research.}

NIH Director's New Innovator Award

Reyna Gordon, PhD, received the prestigious NIH Director's New Innovator Award in fall 2018. Dr. Gordon's "Biomarkers of Rhythmic Communication: Integrating Foundational and Translational Approaches" research project was identified as an exceptionally creative way to tackle a difficult challenge in biomedical research, and received a $2.3 million award. Dr. Gordon's commitment to understanding how musicality is related to brain development and human health crosses over disciplinary boundaries.

National Endowment for the Arts Grant

The Vanderbilt Music, Mind, and Society program received a 2018 National Endowment for Arts Research Lab Award by the National Endowment for Arts (NEA). Reyna Gordon, PhD, and Miriam Lense, PhD, are researchers in the Vanderbilt Music, Mind, and Society program, which is only one of four entities in the country to receive the NEA designation. The program focuses on the arts, health, and socio-emotional well-being in families of children with or without an autism spectrum disorder. In addition to the $150,000 award from the designation, the Vanderbilt Music, Mind, and Society program has recently gained more than $800,000 in grants, which will fund two upcoming studies with the Nashville arts community.

Fostering Research

Vanderbilt Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery offers support and resources to up-and-coming researchers. The Vanderbilt Otolaryngology residency program offers PGY3 residents six months of dedicated research time in their schedule. This dedicated research block, including a pre-research boot camp, gives residents the experience of pursuing an idea through all phases of the research process. Residents have faculty mentors and can draw on experts and resources at Vanderbilt University Medical Center.