Current Research

Jon Mallen-St. Clair, MD, PhD, has a long-standing research interest in immunology, tumor biology and tissue regeneration that has spanned the last decade and has resulted in several publications in high-impact, peer-reviewed journals, such as Journal of Clinical Investigation, Genes & Development, and Nature Medicine. Clinically, his passion is microvascular reconstruction of the head and neck. Ultimately, his goal is establish a laboratory that will enable translational research in the use of cellular technologies and innovative devices to improve our ability to reconstruct defects of the head and neck.

Breakthrough Research Areas

• Stem cell based therapy for osteoradionecrosis of the jaws
• Outcomes research involving microvascular reconstruction and transoral robotic surgery, as well as national database research

• Dmitriy Sheyn, PhD. Assistant Professor of Biomedical Sciences
  

Marty Hopp, MD, PhD, is the co-director of the Cedars-Sinai Sinus Center. The Cedars-Sinai Sinus Center Research Team and the OSA Treatment Center Research Team are dedicated to advancing the care and treatment of patients with Rhinosinusitis and OSA using innovative basic and clinical research projects, and providing a Clinical Trial Site for devices, medications, therapies and implants for local, national and international protocols.

The Tower ENT Research Team is dedicated to outpatient basic and clinical research projects in otolaryngology that are designed and  conducted for National IRB oversite rather than hospital IRB oversite.

Breakthrough Research Areas

• Clinical Trial Site for multiple surgical, medical, dissolvable, and implantable treatments for rhinosinusitis including Propel (Intersect), Acclarent EAERA (Acclarent),  SinuSafe, and  Benralizumab (Il-5 inhib) for Nasal Polyps, AstraZeneca.
• Development of one of the largest patient data bases of consecutive surgical patients (>1,000), including short- and long-term QOL evaluations as well as up to one year post op. 
• Pioneering the evaluation of the wide range of the diverse systemic effects of sinusitis and OSA on patient quality of life, including incidence, severity and pre and post therapy.
• Clinical trial site for novel and innovative Xll therapy for OSA including development of several alternate XII Stimulator Implants. Including ImThera XII Stimulator, Pillar Soft Palate Implant, Zelegent soft palate implant. Pending start of NEW Xll stimulator implant from Nyxoah.
• Clinical Trial Site (private office) for Vigilant – Oncalert , saliva biomarker detection of Head and Neck Cancer. 

Internal Collaborations

• 35 multispecialty physicians and caregivers involved in the Sinus Center
  
• 25 multispecialty physicians, dentists and care givers in the  OSA Treatment Center 
  
• Dr. Steven Freedland, Deptartment of Urology, Cedars-Sinai
  
• Dr. Lenore Ackerman, Dr. Jennifer Anger, Department of Urology, Cedars-Sinai
  

External Collaborations

• Eustachian Tube Study Group, AAO / HNS
  

Matthew Lee, MD, is a fellowship-trained facial plastic and reconstructive surgeon, and the associate residency program director for Otolaryngology—Head and Neck Surgery. His primary research interests are in the treatment of nasal obstruction, which can occur as a result of trauma, prior surgery or congenital deformity. He has studied novel surgical and technological treatments for nasal valve obstruction, and is investigating the efficacy of these techniques using validated patient reported outcome measures (PROMs).

Breakthrough Areas of Research

• Development of a validated comprehensive quality of life instrument for aesthetic and functional rhinoplasty
• Investigation of the efficacy of extracorporeal septal reconstruction
• Outcomes research in nasal obstruction after nasal skin cancer reconstruction
• Stem cell research in the reconstruction of oromandibular defects

Babak Azizzadeh, MD, obtained his undergraduate and medical degrees from UCLA and subsequently completed otolaryngology residency training in the UCLA Division of Head and Neck Surgery. At Harvard Medical School, he completed fellowship training in facial plastic and reconstructive surgery and microvascular head and neck reconstruction.

His research interests are focused on rhinoplasty, facial rejuvenation and facial nerve disorders. Furthermore, he has chaired international symposiums on facial paralysis and has been the co-director of Cedars-Sinai Medical Center's annual Multispecialty Aesthetic and Reconstructive Surgery Symposium since 2005. Additionally, he is the fellowship director for the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (AAFPRS) Fellowship Program and co-director of the Multispecialty Aesthetic Clinical Research Organization (MACRO) that focuses on FDA clinical trials.

Breakthrough Areas of Research

• Management of post-facial paralysis synkinesis
• Facial reanimation
• Facial rejuvenation and analysis

David Alessi, MD is the founder and medical director of the Alessi Institute for Facial Plastic Surgery. He is board certified by both The American Board of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery and the American Board of Otolaryngology—Head and Neck Surgery. His research interests include minimally invasive treatments for obstructive sleep apnea as well as topical treatments for fungal ear infections.

Breakthrough Areas of Research

• Assessment of the efficacy of radiofrequency ablation for the treatment of sleep apnea at a multi-clinic community setting
• Ketoconazole ear drops in the treatment of fungal otitis external