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.

Project Updates:

Formed clinical databases and a process to query the entire Froedtert Health and Children's Wisconsin electronic health records, resulting in use of the database for 74 research projects that are translating into changes in clinical care and exploring important issues such as cancer cell behavior, sleep apnea screening, and outcomes related to hearing loss and cochlear implants
Provided research opportunities to 17 residents, 71 medical students, five graduate students, and several other trainees
Supported research projects led to 33 peer-reviewed publications and over 30 national presentations
Used OTO Clinomics to provide preliminary data in support of a number of grants with over $760,000 leveraged to date