OTO Clinomics

Establishing a precision health and outcomes program in otolaryngology at the Medical College of Wisconsin

Full Project Name:OTO Clinomics: A Precision Health and Outcomes Program in OtolaryngologyPrincipal Investigator:Joseph Zenga, MD, Otolaryngology and Communication ScienceCo-Investigator(s):John Rhee, MD, MPH, Otolaryngology and Communication ScienceAward Amount:$1,200,000

Award Date

January2020

Project Duration:66 months

Project Summary:

Otolaryngologic disorders are among the most prevalent of conditions affecting health in Wisconsin and the world. These common and impactful conditions — including neuro-degenerative conditions (hearing loss, balance disorders, cognition), cancer (head and neck cancer, skull base tumors), and inflammatory diseases (otitis media, sinusitis, tonsillitis, reflux, and laryngitis) — have many causes, treatment options, and responses to intervention. Yet, there are significant gaps in our understanding of individualized and personalized determinants of disease progression and response to treatment.

Through this award, the Medical College of Wisconsin Department of Otolarygology and Communication Science will establish a new program to bring personalized medicine to the field of otolaryngology, establishing a system-wide platform for collecting and analyzing demographic and outcomes data, as well as focused investigations into key disorders with high prevalence in Wisconsin to improve health care delivery in the state.

Outcomes & Lessons Learned:

Built and sustained an integrated data platform to enable a wide range of studies focused on improving diagnosis, treatment decisions, and long-term outcomes of diverse patient populations in all areas of otolaryngology
Advanced interdisciplinary collaboration, bringing together clinicians, data scientists, and basic science researchers to identify new factors that influence disease progression and recovery
Trained and supported medical students, residents, and fellows in clinically meaningful research opportunities that strengthened institutional research capacity, expanded dissemination of findings, and created a durable foundation for continued growth beyond the funding period
Translated findings into scholarly output through peer-reviewed publications, national conference presentations, and trainee research presentations to inform broader clinical dialogues
Used OTO Clinomics to provide preliminary data in support of a number of grants with over $760,000 leveraged during the project period