A three-month research rotation occurs during the third year of residency. Multiple clinical and basic research opportunities are available. The departmental Resident Research Committee assists with the formulation and design of research projects, and research projects are generally funded through University Research Committee (URC) grants. The Otological Research Laboratories have consistently been in the 90th percentile of funding from the National Institutes of Health for otolaryngology programs. Cochlear function, presbycusis, noise damage, neuroanatomy, and neurophysiology are studied in animals and humans. Clinical Ph.D.s lead the research programs in speech and swallowing, head and neck cancer biology, and cochlear implantation. Clinical protocols in head and neck cancer are under investigation, and tumor biology research is pursued in the Cancer Center. A number of research projects are also underway in the area of sinus and upper respiratory disease. Overall, the department ranks 12th nationally in NIH funding for Otolaryngology – Head & Neck Surgery departments with more than 3 million dollars of NIH funding in 2004. Each year, residents are required to complete at least one research project, present at the annual departmental Magnolia Conference, and submit a paper publication.  Guidelines for Resident Research Rotations
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