New Fund Awards to the UPMC Department of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery

The UPMC Department of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery has a long history of innovative and patient focused research. Advancing our field through discovery is a core tenet of the Department and the continued growth in our research portfolio includes several new funding awards in 2026. Congratulations to our eight faculty and residents on their recent funding awards.

• Steven Chinn, MD, is the recipient of a National Institute of Health award for his project, “Advancing On-Slide and Optical Biopsy Tools to Detect High-Risk Oral Premalignancy.”
• Kevin Contrera, MD, MPH, received an American College of Surgeons research grant for his project, “Personalized Treatment of HPV+ Oropharyngeal Cancer Through Early Perioperative Circulating Tumor DNA.”
• Chelsea Gelboin-Burkhardt, MD, received an AHNS Trainee Research Pilot Grant for her project, “Evaluating Nerve-Immune Interactions in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma.”
• Micah Harris, MD, is the recipient of an Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery research grant for his project, “Immune Environment of Surgical Drain Fluid for HPV(-) Head and Neck Cancer.”
• Maryanna Owoc, MD, PhD, received an AAO-HNSF Resident Research Grant for her project, “Disparities in Hearing Healthcare Access in Children with Single-Sided Deafness.”
• Joshua Smith, MD, is the recipient of an AAO-HNS grant for his project, “Alternative Forms of PD-L1 Expression in Head & Neck Cancer.”
• Sandra Stinnett, MD, is the recipient of an American Laryngological Association ALVRE Fund Grant for her project, “Voiceload: The Impact of Neighborhood Deprivation and Allostatic Load on Voice Handicap in Muscle Tension Dysphonia.”
• Lazar Vujanović, PhD, received funding from PNC and the J Samuel and Rose Y Cox Foundation, for his project, “Postop Management & Therapy.”