Center for Matrix Biology - Vanderbilt University and Medical Center

Bernard Rousseau, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor in the Department of Otolaryngology

	Office Address:	Oxford House, Room 602
	Mailing Address:	1313 21st Avenue South Oxford House, Room 602 Nashville, TN 37232-4480
	Lab address:	10267 Medical Center East, South Tower
	Phone:	615-343-0862
	FAX:	615-343-0872
		email \| website

Research Summary

Optimal function of the vocal fold lamina propria is essential to human voice production. The lamina propria is an area of connective tissue that is uniquely different from tissues found elsewhere in the body. Histological and physiological comparisons can be made with other tissues such as skin and joints that undergo frequent trauma, repeated cycles of inflammation, and decreased function secondary to injury. However, no other tissue in the body undergoes mechanical forces similar to the vibration that the vocal folds experience during phonation.

Our research program investigates the role of phonation on organization and remodeling of the vocal fold and novel methods for vocal fold tissue regeneration. Our research efforts are funded by the National Institutes of Health, National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders. Current projects include the investigation of phonation on expression and deposition of the extracellular matrix, and the use of growth factors and novel therapeutic agents to improve the effects of aging on the vocal fold lamina propria. Our laboratory uses a combination of histology, neurophysiology, and molecular biology techniques to accomplish these aims. Ultimately, the goal of our programmatic research efforts are centered around improving the management of patients with voice disorders.

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Associated initiative(s):

Biomaterials

Fibrosis

Tissue Regeneration

Wound Repair

Career opportunities:
Postdoctoral Position Available

Selected Publications

» Ohno, T, Hirano, S, Rousseau, B Extracellular matrix gene expression during wound healing of the injured rat vocal fold Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 2009. 140:757-61

» Swanson, ER, Abdollahian, D, Ohno, T, Ge, P, Zealear, DL, Rousseau, B Characterization of raised phonation in an evoked rabbit phonation model Laryngoscope 2009. :

» Ge, PJ, French, LC, Ohno, T, Zealear, DL, Rousseau, B Model of evoked rabbit phonation Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol 2009. 118:51-5

» Ohno, T, Hirano, S, Rousseau, B Gene expression of transforming growth factor-beta1 and hepatocyte growth factor during wound healing of injured rat vocal fold Laryngoscope 2009. :

» Ohno, T, Yoo, MJ, Swanson, ER, Hirano, S, Ossoff, RH, Rousseau, B Regeneration of aged rat vocal folds using hepatocyte growth factor therapy Laryngoscope 2009. 119:1424-30

» Rousseau, B, Ge, PJ, Ohno, T, French, LC, Thibeault, SL Extracellular matrix gene expression after vocal fold injury in a rabbit model Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol 2008. 117:598-603

» Ohno, T, French, LC, Hirano, S, Ossoff, RH, Rousseau, B Effect of hepatocyte growth factor on gene expression of extracellular matrix during wound healing of the injured rat vocal fold Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol 2008. 117:696-702

» Rousseau, B, Ge, P, French, LC, Zealear, DL, Thibeault, SL, Ossoff, RH Experimentally induced phonation increases matrix metalloproteinase-1 gene expression in normal rabbit vocal fold Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 2008. 138:62-8

» Rousseau, B, Tateya, I, Lim, X, Munoz-Del-Rio, A, Bless, DM Investigation of Anti-Hyaluronidase Treatment on Vocal Fold Wound Healing J Voice 2005. :

» Rousseau, B, Hirano, S, Chan, RW, Welham, NV, Thibeault, SL, Ford, CN, Bless, DM Characterization of chronic vocal fold scarring in a rabbit model J Voice 2004. 18:116-24

» Hirano, S, Bless, DM, Rousseau, B, Welham, N, Montequin, D, Chan, RW, Ford, CN Prevention of vocal fold scarring by topical injection of hepatocyte growth factor in a rabbit model Laryngoscope 2004. 114:548-56

» Rousseau, B, Sohn, J, Montequin, DW, Tateya, I, Bless, DM Functional outcomes of reduced hyaluronan in acute vocal fold scar Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol 2004. 113:767-76

» Hirano, S, Bless, DM, Nagai, H, Rousseau, B, Welham, NV, Montequin, DW, Ford, CN Growth factor therapy for vocal fold scarring in a canine model Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol 2004. 113:777-85

» Thibeault, SL, Rousseau, B, Welham, NV, Hirano, S, Bless, DM Hyaluronan levels in acute vocal fold scar Laryngoscope 2004. 114:760-4

» Welham, NV, Rousseau, B, Ford, CN, Bless, DM Tracking outcomes after phonosurgery for sulcus vocalis: a case report J Voice 2003. 17:571-8

» Rousseau, B, Hirano, S, Scheidt, TD, Welham, NV, Thibeault, SL, Chan, RW, Bless, DM Characterization of vocal fold scarring in a canine model Laryngoscope 2003. 113:620-7

» Hirano, S, Bless, DM, Rousseau, B, Welham, N, Scheidt, T, Ford, CN Fibronectin and adhesion molecules on canine scarred vocal folds Laryngoscope 2003. 113:966-72