Along with our mission to provide patients with exceptional care, the Division of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery works collaboratively with NorthShore's Research Institute to learn how to better treat and prevent disease. We are committed to participating in innovative research to aid in early diagnosis and early intervention.
Among other projects, this research includes:
- Biomarker identification in patients at risk of developing a head and neck carcinoma
- Identification of risk factors of lymph node metastasis in head and neck cancer
- Impact of thyroid surgery on sleep symptoms
As research continually moves into clinical trials, we are able to provide current and future patients with even more options in advanced diagnosis and treatment.
We actively participate in a clinical trials program through our Community Clinical Oncology Program (CCOP) of the National Cancer Institute, as well as with our research partnerships, including the University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine.
Our main areas of focus over the past years have included optimizing treatment intensity to maximize survival while minimizing long term toxicity. Based on this research and specific risk factors in some patients, treatment intensity is increased. Whereas in others, who are likely to have a good outcome with less intense treatment, we can focus on curing the cancer while attempting to minimize any damaging long term effects of treatment. With both approaches, our aim is to provide the best level of care personalized for the needs of each patient.
For More Information
For more information on our clinical trials and research, please call 847.570.2109.