J. Gail Neely, M.D., F.A.C.S.

DEPARTMENT OF Otolaryngology
Keywords: facial nerve, facial paralysis, facial expressions, synkinesis, research education

My work is in two domains: 1) Facial nerve/Facial expression 2) Research education. The Facial nerve/Facial expression work is in three parts: 1) RCT for the treatment of Bell’s palsy - submitted to NIH-NINDS. This is a multicenter placebo-controlled factorial designed trial of prednisone, valacyclovir, placebo, combination of prednisone and valacyclovir 2) Facial motion laboratory to objectively measure facial expression in health and disease – developing pilot work. This work includes surface deformation analysis, surface laser Doppler vibrometery, and surface EMG and motor unit counts 3) Animal model exploring peripheral and central effect of facial nerve injury, specifically the anatomical substrate for synkinesis – developing pilot work. This work is currently in the planning phase and seeks to define the site and mechanism of peripheral and central changes leading to synkinesis in a mouse model. The Research education work is in two parts: 1) NIH-NIDCD T-32 for postdoctoral (residents) and pre-doctoral (medical students). This work employees research expertise within and external to the Department to train and inspire physician-scientists 2) Summer research education for high school students through the Students and Teachers as Research Scientists (STARS) program funded and administered through UMSL and corporate sponsors. This work uses our facial motion laboratory to expose students to research methods and concepts.