UW’s Kotlarek Receives NIH Grant to Study Infants With Cleft Palate

Katelyn Kotlarek, an assistant professor with the University of Wyoming's Division of Communication Disorders, has received an R21 research grant from the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD) to study precision medicine for infants with cleft palate.

The award from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), totaling more than $500,000, will fund Kotlarek's research over the next three years.

"This award will enable an important scientific foundation for improved surgical selection and early speech screening for infants with cleft palate," says Kotlarek, who notes that up to 40 percent of children with cleft palate can have residual speech issues after their palate surgery, requiring multiple surgical interventions. These repeat surgeries and corresponding speech issues can result in speech disorders that limit participation in society and cause a financial burden for families.

Kotlarek, along with her collaborators, Dr. Gregory Allen and Dr. Ilana Neuberger, from Children's Hospital Colorado, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, and Kate Bunton, of the University of Arizona, is pursuing the study to identify mechanisms for surgical procedure selection and early speech monitoring. A novel combination of magnetic resonance imaging and home-based speech recordings before and after palate repair surgery will be used.

Results of the research will inform future patient-specific interventions and monitoring, helping to further understand speech development and advance treatment outcomes in individuals with cleft palate.

"We are incredibly proud of Dr. Kotlarek's achievement in securing this prestigious R21 grant from NIDCD," says Professor Mark Guiberson, director of UW's Division of Communication Disorders. "Her research will advance intervention approaches for infants with cleft palate, leveraging MRI technology to tailored surgical approaches. This research underscores our division's commitment to advancing the science behind clinical practice."

Michelle Hilaire, a clinical professor and interim dean of UW's College of Health Sciences, congratulates Kotlarek for receiving the R21 grant to further her research.

"This research will undoubtedly pave the way for new insights and treatment options for infants with cleft palate," Hilaire says. "This achievement not only marks a significant milestone in her career, but also embodies the spirit of innovation and dedication to transform contributions in the field of communication disorders."

Kotlarek earned her B.S. in communication science and disorders from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 2012. She then earned an M.S. in communication science and disorders from Florida State University in 2014, becoming a licensed speech-language pathologist. Upon completion of her Ph.D. in communication sciences and disorders from East Carolina University in 2019, she joined the UW faculty.

For more information about the project, email Kotlarek at [email protected].

About the University of Wyoming College of Health Sciences

UW's College of Health Sciences trains health and wellness professionals and researchers in a wide variety of disciplines, including medicine, nursing, pharmacy, speech-language pathology, social work, kinesiology, public health, health administration and disability studies. The college also oversees residency and fellowship programs in Casper and Cheyenne, as well as operating a speech/hearing clinic in Laramie and primary care clinics in Laramie, Casper and Cheyenne.

With more than 1,600 undergraduate, graduate and professional students, the college is dedicated to training the health and wellness workforce of Wyoming and conducting high-quality research and community engagement, with a particular focus on rural and frontier populations.

About the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders

NIDCD, part of NIH, conducts and supports research in the normal and disordered processes of hearing, balance, taste, smell, voice, speech and language.

For more information about NIDCD, go to www.nidcd.nih.gov/about.