Benjamin Sanchez Terrones, professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of Utah, was awarded a $14.3M grant from the National Cancer Institute (NCI) as part of a significant collaboration that brings together MD Anderson Cancer Center and Sanchez Research Lab. The grant will support their research as they aim to improve outcomes for tongue cancer patients over the next five years.
The collaboration aims to improve swallowing outcomes for tongue cancer survivors, many of whom suffer from dysphagia (difficulty swallowing) due to radiation therapy. This condition increases the risk of aspiration pneumonia (lung infection caused by inhaling food or liquid), a serious complication.
The research team is developing a non-invasive bedside device to monitor tongue nerve health, aiming to replace the current needle-based method. According to Sanchez Terrones, the team is working on “a tongue compressor that looks like a popsicle” to record electrical activity in the tongue. This will allow for more frequent monitoring and earlier detection of nerve deterioration.
By comparing this new technology to existing methods, the team hopes to establish a safer alternative for assessing tongue nerve health. This proactive approach will help clinicians intervene before symptoms worsen, enhancing patients’ quality of life.
Written by Logan Little.