About the H. Bryan Neel III, MD, PhD Distinguished Research Lecture
Funded by the Neel family and friends, the H. Bryan Neel III, MD, PhD Distinguished Research Lecture was established in 1993 to disseminate information regarding new developments in biomedical science to the otolaryngologic community.
2024 Lecturer
Taste Receptors in Upper Airway Innate Immunity: Implications in ENT Diseases
Sunday, September 29, 11:00 am – 12:00 pm (ET)
Noam A. Cohen, MD, PhD, is the Ralph Butler Professor of Otorhinolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery and director of Rhinology Research at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. He is also an adjunct member of the Monell Chemical Senses Center and a staff surgeon at the Philadelphia VA Medical Center.
Dr. Cohen’s research interests include host-microbe interactions in the upper airway with an emphasis on sinonasal innate defenses focusing on airway taste receptors and mucociliary clearance, microbial biofilms, solitary chemosensory cells (aka tuft cells), and the development of novel sinonasal topical antimicrobial therapies.
His current efforts focus on correlating the genetics of bitter taste receptor functionality in the context of chronic rhinosinusitis and the therapeutic implications of stimulating sinonasal bitter taste receptors, using bitter tastants, to activate production of local nitric oxide or release of antimicrobial peptides as alternatives for conventional antibiotics in the management of acute and chronic sinus infections.
Dr. Cohen obtained his medical degree and doctorate degree in neuroscience from the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. He then completed a general surgery internship, a residency in otorhinolaryngology, and a fellowship in rhinology and skull base surgery at the University of Pennsylvania.
About the Lecture
This session will review recent scientific discoveries involving extra-gustatory taste receptors and their role in mucosal innate immunity in the context of chronic rhinosinusitis. Data will demonstrate how genetically determined bitter taste perception reflects mucosal innate immune functional status and correlates to disease burden and therapeutic outcomes in some subsets of chronic rhinosinusitis. While the clinical focus of this session is on chronic rhinosinusitis, the general scientific principles may extend to other otolaryngologic mucosal diseases.
Learning Objectives:
- Upon completion of this session, participants should be able to describe the role of chemosensory receptors in airway innate defense.
- Upon completion of this session, participants should be able to recognize how the genetics of taste perception reflects susceptibility to chronic rhinosinusitis and treatment outcomes.
- Upon completion of this session, participants should be able to recognize the role of chemosensory pathways in sinonasal neurogenic inflammation.
Previous Lecturers:
- 2023: Theresa (Tessa) A. Hadlock, MD
- 2022: Konstantina “Tina” Stankovic, MD, PhD
- 2021: Alexander H. Gelbard, MD
- 2020: Glenn E. Green, MD
- 2019: Baran D. Sumer, MD, FACS
- 2018: Nikolas H. Blevins, MD
- 2017: Thomas Lee, MD
- 2016: Martha J. Somerman, D.D.S., Ph.D.
- 2015: Lloyd B. Minor, MD
- 2014: Carter Van Waes, MD
- 2013: Martin A. Birchall, MD
- 2012: Allan I. Pack, MD, PhD
- 2011: James Christopher Post, MD, PhD
- 2010: Joseph P. Vacanti, MD
- 2009: Martin J. Burton, DM, FRCS
- 2008: Blake S. Wilson, BSEE and Richard T. Miyamoto, MD
- 2007: Elias A. Zerhouni, M.D.
- 2006: Robert McKinnon Califf, MD MACC
- 2005: Alfred E. Mann, PhD
