NIDCD Otolaryngology Clinical Protocol Biospecimen Bank

Study Description:

National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD) investigators are studying the natural history and treatment of diverse conditions affecting hearing, balance, smell, taste, voice, speech and language at the National Institutes of Health (NIH). These studies require the collection of biospecimens for research purposes.

Objectives:

Primary:

To create a biorepository of diseased and normal tissue specimens for research purposes. The samples will be obtained:

• From surgical waste materials from participants of all ages in NIH protocols who have hearing, balance, smell, taste, voice, speech and language disorders.
• Participants aged 3 and older may have collection of blood, saliva, and/or oral swabs.
• Participants aged 18 and older, may undergo oral mucosal biopsies and skin biopsies and nasal secretion collection.

Secondary:

The specimens may be shared with other approved protocols or may be used under this protocol to conduct analysis of cellular, molecular, genetic and genomic biology of normal processes and disorders. These laboratory studies may support development of future protocols that include new therapeutic agents, novel treatment approaches, and new prognostic and diagnostic models for subjects with disorders of the head and neck affecting human communication.

Endpoints:

The primary endpoint of this study is the creation of a NIDCD biorepository from both surgical waste material and collected blood, saliva, oral swabs, nasal secretions, oral mucosa biopsy and skin biopsy specimens.

• INCLUSION CRITERIA

In order to be eligible to participate in this study, an individual must meet all of the following criteria:

• Ability to provide their own consent, or for minors, a parent or guardian is able to consent on their behalf.
• Ability of subject (or Legally Authorized Representative (LAR) to understand and the willingness to sign a written informed consent document.
• Have a hearing, balance, smell, taste, voice, speech or language condition for which the subject is under clinical care or research purposes under a separate Review Board (IRB) approved protocol; OR be a healthy volunteer aged at least 3 years, enrolled on an approved research protocol.

Exclusion criteria

An individual who meets any of the following criteria will be excluded from participation in this study:

• Have active symptomatic major organ disorders that would increase the risk of biopsy for research, including but not limited to bleeding disorders, ischemic heart disease, a recent myocardial infarction, active congestive heart failure or severe pulmonary dysfunction
• Have specific medical condition, such as a bleeding tendency where additional biopsies or phlebotomy procedures may increase the subjects risk in participating. This will be determined at the discretion of the principal investigator.