Rhinology: Sinus & Allergy

The Rhinology division performs its clinical research in coordination with its basic science research, creating an overarching research profile that is translational in nature, covering both clinical research projects and basic science research projects based upon patient symptoms and residual clinic samples from the operating room and clinic. This coordination allows a continuum of discovery from when a patient first sees a rhinology physician, to the laboratory, and back to the patient in the clinic to improve outcomes and cure disease.

Nithin Adappa, M.D.
John Bosso, M.D.
Noam Cohen, M.D.
Michael Kohanski M.D. Ph.D.
James Palmer, M.D.


Nithin Adappa, MD

Sinonasal Cancer Study to Evaluate Oncologic Outcomes and Quality of Life

CORSICA QoL

This research study is being done to learn more about sinonasal carcinoma (cancer). If you agree to join the study, you will be asked to complete questionnaires about your health and well-being at the beginning of your treatment and also throughout your treatment.

Subject Population: Adults who have been diagnosed with sinonasal carcinoma (cancer)

Duration of Subject Participation: Up to 5 years

Contact: Ethan Skinner (215) 615-1611

CORSICA Sinonasal Cancer Biobank

CORSICA Biobank

This research study is being done to collect biospecimens (samples) from people with abnormal cell growth including sinonasal cancer. We hope to learn more about the course and outcomes of the disease. This information may lead to new treatments. If you agree to join the study, you (or your child) will be asked to complete the following research procedures:
1. Give up to 2 tubes of blood (about 4 teaspoons), saliva (spit), and/or cheek swab.
2. Give some of the remnant (leftover) tissue from your surgery for genetic testing and
sequencing, cell lines, animal model generation, and future research.
3. Let the researchers collect information about your health from your (child’s) medical record.

Subject Population: Adults and children aged 12 or older who have sinonasal cancer or abnormal cell growth

Duration of Subject Participation: 1 day

Contact: Ethan Skinner (215) 615-1611

John Bosso, MD

A Phase 2 Multicenter, Double-blind, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Trial to evaluate Oral Ifetroban in Subjects with Symptomatic Aspirin Exacerbated Respiratory Disease (AERD)

Ifetroban

This study will look at a drug called ifetroban. Ifetroban sodium (ifetroban) is an investigational drug, meaning that it is not approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The purpose of this study is to find out if ifetroban will improve the sino-nasal symptoms and quality-of-life of patients with symptomatic AERD. The study will also evaluate the safety of ifetroban for this use. Eligible participants who volunteer to take part in the study will have 4-5 study visits 2-4 weeks apart. Oral treatment is taken daily for 8 weeks, followed by a 2-week follow-up period. Half of the participants will receive ifetroban and half will receive placebo.

Subject Population: Adults who have symptomatic aspirin exacerbated respiratory disease (AERD)

Duration of Subject Participation: Up to 3 months

Contact: Ethan Skinner (215) 615-1611

An Open Label Rollover Study for Continuing Oral Ifetroban in Subjects with Aspirin Exacerbated Respiratory Disease (AERD)

Cumberland AERD Rollover

The purpose of this study is to provide continued access to Ifetroban, an investigational drug to patients with symptomatic aspirin exacerbated respiratory disease (AERD), who perceive a benefit and wish to continue treatment after completing the parent study (Cumberland AERD). This study will also evaluate the long-term safety of ifetroban in subjects with AERD. Eligible patients will return to the study center 3 times during the 12-month period following their last visit on the parent study which can serve as their transition visit.

Subject Population: Adults who have symptomatic aspirin exacerbated respiratory disease (AERD) and have shown compliance with parent study (Cumberland AERD)

Duration of Subject Participation: Up to 12 months

Contact: Ethan Skinner (215) 615-1611

Noam Cohen, MD, PhD

Pathogenesis of Chronic Rhinosinusitis

Pathogenesis of CRS

The research study is being done to

a) look for better ways to treat chronic rhinosinusitis.

b) look at the relationship between sinusitis and the ability to taste
different flavors (such as bitter and sweet), and at differences in tasting ability between people who tend to get a lot of sinus infections and healthy people who do not.

If you agree to join the study, you will be asked to do one or more of the following research procedures:

  1. Give samples of your blood, saliva (spit), mucus and cells in your nose and sinuses, and/or leftover
    tissue from your surgery
  2. Have smell and taste tests
  3. Let the researchers collect information about your health from your medical record
  4. Play a smell training game at home
  5. Answer questions about your sinus and nose symptoms, quality of life, asthma, allergies, and/or smoking history.

Subject Population: Adults who are planning to have sinonasal surgery and/or a sinonasal culture (lab test) and healthy adults

Duration of Subject Participation: Up to 1 year

Contact: Dr. Noam Cohen (215) 823-5800 ext. 3892

Inverted Papilloma: HPV and Tumor Microenvironment in Disease Progression

Inverted Papilloma

The goal of this study is to determine the pathogenesis of Inverted Papillomas (IPs) and the etiological role of HPV. Our hypothesis is that HPV is responsible for the initiation of IP, and dysplastic changes and malignant transformation requires viral integration and additional cellular changes, with molecular markers that correlate with histologic grading.  This study will provide insight into the roles of LR and HR HPV in pathogenesis of IP.  We hypothesize that coinfection is common, with HR HPV in benign IP as well, but viral integration would be integral in malignant transformation.

Richard Doty, PhD

Legionella Pneumonia’s Effect on Olfactory Function

The purpose of this research study is to examine a possible link between Legionnaires’ disease and smell loss. If you agree to join the study, you will be asked to complete a smell test and a questionnaire.

Subject Population: Adults who were diagnosed at any time with Legionnaires’ disease and healthy adults

Duration of Subject Participation: About 30 minutes

Contact: Dr. Richard Doty (215) 662-6580

Biomarkers in Neural Disorders

This study looks at ways to identify people with early Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, and other neurological diseases by sensory testing. If you decide to participate, you will do tests of your ability to smell, your reflexes, a picture identification test, a short test of your brain functions, and noninvasive mapping of blink reflexes induced by nerve stimulation.

Subject Population: Healthy adults, adults who have been diagnosed with a neurological disorder such as Alzheimer’s Disease, Progressive Supranuclear Palsy, Diffuse Lewy Body Disease, Multiple System Atrophy, Essential Tremor, Myasthenia Gravis, or Drug-Induced Parkinson’s Disease, and adults who have had a spinal cord injury

Duration of Subject Participation: 3-4 hours

Contact: Dr. Richard Doty (215) 662-6580

Nasal Inhalation Influences on Smell and Taste Function

This research study is being done to see if sniffing certain materials improves the sense of smell.
If you agree to join the study, you will be asked to complete the following research procedures in the
comfort of your own home:
1. Smell and taste tests. These will take about 40 minutes.
2. Sniff a set of 10 scented wands 2 times a day for 4 months.
3. Repeat the smell and taste tests.

Subject Population: Healthy adults

Duration of Subject Participation: About 4 months

Contact: Dr. Richard Doty (215) 662-6580

Comparing olfactory and gustatory impairment in neurologic- versus hepatic-predominant Wilson disease

Smell & Taste in Wilson Disease

The research is being done to understand the differences in smell and taste that patients with Wilson’s disease experience. If you agree to join the study, you will be asked to complete the following research procedures: 1. At-home smell test 2. At home taste test 3. Online survey.

Subject Population: Patients with Wilson’s disease experience

Duration of Subject Participation: About 1 hour

Contact: Dr. Richard Doty (215) 662-6580

Relationship of Demographic Patient Information to Quantitative Measures of Smell & Taste Function: A Retrospective Chart Review

Chemosensory Dysfn Retro

This is a retrospective chart review study to assess associations between demographic and chemosensory test measures among patients seen in the Penn Smell & Taste Center since 1980. We seek to better understand associations between a broad range of demographic and sensory measures and the etiology, natural history, clinical manifestations, and treatment possibilities related to chemosensory disturbances.

James Palmer, M.D.

Comparison of sinonasal and oropharyngeal microbiomes to determine viability of oropharyngeal flora for sinonasal auto-transplantation

Comparison of Sinonasal & Oropharyngeal Microbiomes

The research study is being done to compare the communities of bacteria that live in a person’s throat and in their sinuses. You are being invited to participate in a research study because you are a patient at Penn Medicine and either do or do not have chronic rhinosinusitis (long-lasting swelling or infection of the nose and sinuses). Eligible patients will be asked to complete the following research procedures:
• A swab of the back of your mouth/throat
• A swab of your sinuses
This would take about 5 minutes and can be done during your regular doctor’s appointment.