Wednesday, April 2, 2025
4/2/2025
Biomechanical Mechanisms of Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo - Project Summary. Our overall goal is to improve the differential diagnosis and treatment of complex multi-canal benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) and related disorders of the labyrinth. We will achieve this goal using an array of morphological, computational and experimental methods focused on semicircular canal biomechanics in health and disease. The project has 5 Specific Aims: Aim 1 will apply statistical shape modeling and principal component analysis to quantify inter-subject variance in human membranous labyrinth morphology, which is essential to design of robust canalith repositioning maneuvers (CRMs). Aim 2 will construct and validate computational and physical models to easily simulate all forms of BPPV, diagnostic tests, and candidate CRMs across a diverse range of labyrinth morphologies. Aim 3 will develop and test universal CRMs that are robust to morphological variability and designed to clear all 3 ipisilateral canals of otoconial debris in a single movement sequence. Aim 4 will experimentally evaluate the head impulse tests (HIT) as part of the test battery for differential diagnosis of canalithiasis, cupulolithiasis, cupuloperfluo and canal jam. Aim 5 will determine if short-arm posterior canalithiasis and cupulolithiasis can account for type 2 BPPV and characteristics of nystagmus. We expect results to quantify sensitivity of standard of care CRMs to morphological diversity, determine if HITs are useful in differential diagnosis of BPPV and related conditions, and introduce a robust universal CRM.
HHS’ Tracking Accountability in Government Grants System (TAGGS) website provides access to detailed descriptions of grants, loans, aggregated direct payments and other types of financial assistance awarded by the HHS Operating Divisions (OPDIVs) and the Office of the Secretary Staff Divisions (STAFFDIVs).