#  Research Opportunities 

 



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 ![Trainees working in a Mass. Eye and Ear lab](/sites/g/files/omnuum8391/files/oto/files/residencyphoto4.png)

 

The Harvard Medical School (HMS) Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery Department maintains an active basic and applied research program that represents a broad range of areas in otolaryngology–head and neck surgery. Many of our clinical faculty members are actively engaged in research projects and we have a large contingent of full-time research faculty. ***All laboratories are available for resident participation in research training.***

[View laboratories, investigators, and current research projects in the HMS Department of Otolaryngology »](/research)


## Research Track Residency

The HMS/Mass. Eye and Ear Otolaryngology–Head & Neck Srugery residency program offers one research track position each year. Supported by a T32-training grant from the NIDCD, the research track residency includes a total of seven years of training:

- One year of general surgery (including six months of ORL)
- Four years of otolaryngology–head and neck surgery
- Two years devoted entirely to research training

These dedicated research years occur between PGY-2 and 3. Research track residents are free of any required clinical duties during this period. While there are opportunities for cross-coverage (“moonlighting”) and assisting with surgical cases to keep clinical skills in shape, it is entirely voluntary. A re-entry program is provided in the final months preceding return to clinical work. Additionally, a supplemental book fund is available to help cover costs of educational materials or conference travel.

Candidates for the T32 research track residency are interested in pursuing careers as physician-investigators in areas such as basic, translational, health services, health policy, or clinical otolaryngology research. The presence of several renown institutions filled with eminent faculty in Boston make cross-campus collaborations a commonplace for T32 residents.

See below for work from recent and current T32 residents:

**2011–2013**  
**Dunia Abdul-Aziz, MD**   
*Toward hair cell regeneration: Hic1 regulation of Atoh1*   
Mentor: Albert Edge, PhD  
Work site: Mass. Eye and Ear

**2012–2014**  
**Rebecca Hammon, MD**   
*Role of apoptosis in the response of HNSCC to Cisplatin treatment*   
Mentor: James Rocco, MD, PhD  
Work site: Mass. Eye and Ear

**2013–2015**  
**Elliott Kozin, MD**   
*Optogenetic control of the auditory pathway*   
Mentors: Christian Brown, PhD, and Daniel Lee, MD  
Work site: Mass. Eye and Ear

**2014–2016**  
**Brian Lin, MD, MSc**   
*Risk factors for hearing loss in prospective cohorts*   
Mentors: Gary Curhan, MD, ScD, and Konstantina Stankovic, MD, PhD  
Work site: Brigham and Women’s Hospital

**2015–2017**  
**Anuraag Parikh, MD**   
*Multiplexed immunofluorescence based quantification of partial-EMT to predict adverse clinicopathologic features in oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma*  
Mentors: Derrick Lin, MD, and Bradley Bernstein, MD, PhD  
Work sites: Mass. Eye and Ear, Mass General

**2016–2018**  
**Vivek Kanumuri, MD**   
*Flexible multimodal neuro-prosthetics for the ABI, CI, and facial nerve*   
Mentors: Christian Brown, PhD, and Daniel Lee, MD  
Work site: Mass. Eye and Ear

**2017–2019**  
**Suresh Mohan, MD**   
*Enhancing axonal penetration through cross-facial nerve grafts*   
Mentors: Nate Jowett, MD, and Tessa Hadlock, MD  
Work site: Mass. Eye and Ear

**2018–2020**  
**Vinay Rathi, MD**   
*Alternative payment models in otolaryngology*   
Mentor: J. Michael McWilliams, MD, PhD  
Work site: Brigham Health

**2019–2021**  
**Phoebe Yu, MD**   
*Hypoglossal Nerve Stimulation for Obstructive Sleep Apnea in Adolescents with Down Syndrome*   
Mentor: Christopher Hartnick, MD  
Work site: Mass Eye and Ear

**2020–2022**  
**Christopher McHugh, MD**  
*Elucidating the Anatomy and Motion of the Human Cochlear Partition*  
Mentor: Heidi Nakajima, MD, PhD  
Work site: Mass Eye and Ear

**2021–2023**  
**Ryan Bartholomew, MD**  
*Magnetic Intracochlear Stimulation; SLAM-based surgical navigation in the skull base*   
Mentor: Christopher Hartnick, MD  
Work site: Mass Eye and Ear

**2022–2024**  
**Lucy Xu, MD**  
*Improving Preoperative ERAS Packet Completion*  
Mentors: Mark Varvares, MD, FACS; Jeremy Goldfarb, MD, Jeremy Richmon, MD and Allen Feng, MD  
Work site: Mass Eye and Ear

**2023–2025**  
**Renata Knoll, MD**

## Clinical Track Residency Research Opportunities

Clinical track residents will identify a research project to work on throughout their training and will present annually on their progress. Five months of residency are dedicated to research time, separated into two 10-week blocks occurring in the PGY-3 and PGY-4 years.

### Examples of Past Resident Research Projects:

- “Piezoelectric sensors for implantable otologic microphones”
- “The role of apoptosis in the response of HNSCC to Cisplatin treatment”
- “Effects of secreted factors from human vestibular schwannomas on murine cochlear cells”
- “Valuing patient preferences”
- “Toward improved outcomes for chronic rhinosinusitis: An economic analysis of sinus surgery”
- “Toward hair cell regeneration: Hic1 regulation of Atoh1”
- “Insurance status and disparities in healthcare utilization in the United States: Acute rhinosinusitis”
- “Global surgery: Access and macroeconomics”
- “The role of simulation in otolaryngology training”
- "Improving outcomes and outcome evaluation in functional septorhinoplasty"
- "Intracochlear pressures in superior canal dehiscence"
- "Mapping tumor heterogeneity in head and neck cancer"
- "Reimagining the Auditory Brainstem Implant"


## Global Health Research

In addition to research in the Boston area, there are ample opportunities for research in global surgery through Mass. Eye and Ear.

## Core Grant Recipients

**2011**  
**Sunshine Dwojak, MD**  
“Outcomes among American Indians in South Dakota with squamous cell carcinoma”

**2012**  
**Rebecca Hammon, MD**  
“The role of apoptosis in clinical response of HNSCC to Cisplatin therapy”

**2013**  
**Dunia Abdul-Aziz, MD**  
“Epigenetic regulation of hair cell differentiation”  
**Elliott Kozin, MD**  
“Optogenetic control of auditory neurons using a new generation opsin”

**2015**  
**Taha Jan, MD**  
“Effects of secreted factors from human vestibular schwannomas on hearing”  
**Sidharth Puram, MD, PhD**  
“Identification of intratumoral subpopulations in oral cavity SCC”

**2016**  
**Yin Ren, MD, PhD**  
"Tumor-penetrating delivery of nanoparticles to human vestibular schwannomas"

**2017**  
**Jenny Chen, MD**  
“Smartphone technology to improve intraoperative feedback”  
**Ashton Lehmann, MD**  
“Perisotin as a biomarker for chronic rhinosinusitis”

**2018**  
**Vivek Kanumuri, MD**  
“Optogenetic stimulation of the facial nerve”  
**Suresh Mohan, MD**  
“Enhancement of axonal penetration through cross-facial nerve grafts”

**2019**  
**Adeeb Derakhshan, MD**  
“The effect of electrical stimulation on schwann cell states along nerve grafts”  
**Allen Feng, MD**  
“Biomechanical analysis of force loadings during suspension microlaryngoscopy”

**2020**  
**Shekhar Gadkaree, MD**  
"Geographic and Socioeconomic Barriers to Access to Care in Otolaryngology"  
**Alan Workman, MD**  
"Murine Model of Cystatin-Induced Coagulation Pathway Derangements in CRSwNP"

**2021**  
**Roy Xiao, MD, MS**  
"Visualizing the Mechanism of End-to-Side Motor Neurorrhaphy"

**2022**  
**Phoebe Yu, MD**  
"Changes in Obstructive Sleep Apnea Measures Following Otolaryngologic Procedures"   
**Krish Suresh, MD**  
"Automated Segmentation of Vestibular Schwannoma MRI for Volumetric Measurement"

**2024**  
**Hoang Bui Nguyen, MD**  
"MXD3 as a determinant of immunoproliferative response to immunotherapy in HNSCC"

**2025**  
**Zach Kons, MD**  
"Otic Delivery of Sodium Thiosulfate to Prevent Cisplatin-Induced Hearing Loss"  
**Hoang Bui Nguyen, MD**  
" Orphan non-coding RNAs in detecting and targeting Head and Neck"  
**Edward Sim, MD**  
"Dissecting ALOX5AP+ macrophages as drivers of HNSCC anti-PD1 resistance"