An In-vivo Genome Wide Screen and Validation for Influenza A Virus Host Determinant Factors

The project, Comparing the Effectiveness of Laryngeal Swabs Versus Biopsies for Microbial Sampling in Patients in Benign Vocal Fold Lesions, led by research associate Anumitha Venkatraman, PhD, compares two microbial sampling methods – swabs vs. biopsies – to determine whether swabs can serve as an effective, less invasive alternative for patients with benign vocal fold lesions. Because the current biopsy-based approach is painful, impractical for routine care and limits who can be sampled, validating swabs could transform clinical practice by allowing safer microbiome assessment in people with voice disorders. Susan Thibeault, PhD, CCC-SLP, professor, Department of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery, UW–Madison, serves as the supervising mentor.