Head and Neck Cancer Alliance Award


The Yul Brynner Grant was first awarded during the 15th annual meeting of the Dysphagia Research Society for swallowing research in patients with head and neck cancer in 2007. It later changed its name to the Head and Neck Cancer Alliance Award in 2010 during the 18th annual meeting of the Dysphagia Research Society.

The award is open to all disciplines and is specifically targeted for swallowing research in patients with head and neck cancer. Since 2014, an award was presented to BOTH an oral presenter and poster presenter. Each award winner will receive $1,250.00. Learn more on the application requirements and how to apply by clicking here.

Past Awards
2021
  • Emma Charters – Swallowing and Communication Outcomes Following Primary Transoral Robotic Surgery
  • Junko Nakajima, DDS., PhD – Evaluation of 3-dimensional hyoid bone movements using 320-ADCT in patients after hemiglossectomy and neck dissection
2020
  • Heather Starmer – Head and Neck Speech and Swallowing Rehabilitation at the Stanford Cancer Center: Adaptation of Dynamic Imaging Grade of Swallowing Toxicity (DIGEST) for Fiberoptic Endoscopic Evaluation of Swallowing: DIGEST-FEES
  • Laurelie Wishart – Association between objective ratings of swallowing and dysphagia-specific quality of life in patients receiving (chemo)radiotherapy for oropharyngeal cancer
2019
  • Carly Barbon of the Rehabilitation Sciences Institute, University of Toronto, Ontario – Poster Presentation: Changes in Swallow Safety and Efficiency After Radiation in Patients with Oropharyngeal Carcinoma
  • Jared Cullen of the University of Wisconsin – Madison, Wisconsin – Oral Presentation: Sensate Versus Asensate Flap Reconstruction of the Oral Cavity with Objective Measurements of Tongue Strength and Function in a Rat Model

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2018
  • Barbara Messing GBMC of The Milton J. Dance, Jr. Head & Neck Center, Baltimore, Maryland – Poster Presentation: Nature and prevalence of dysgeusia during and post head and neck cancer management and its impact on oral intake
  • Claire Jeans Calvary of the Mater Hospital Newcastle, Australia – Oral Presentation: Understanding the impact of head and neck lymphedema on swallow function: Insights from patients experiences

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2017
  • John Russell, PhD of the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI – Poster Presentation: Specific Force Deficits in Extrinsic Tongue Muscles Following Radiation Therapy
  • Laurelie Wall, BSpPath(Hons) of the University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia – Oral Presentation: “SwallowIT”: A Randomised Controlled Trial Investigating the Delivery of Prophylactic Swallowing Therapy to Head/Neck Cancer Patients via Telepractice

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2016
  • Justin Roe, PhD of The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom – Poster Presentation: Patient-Reported Swallowing Outcomes Following 3-Dimensional Conformal and Intensity-Modulated Radiotherapy for Head and Neck Cancer
  • Rosemary Martino, PhD of the University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada – Oral Presentation: Longitudinal Changes in the Swallow Status of Head and Neck Cancer Patients Treated with Systemic Therapy and Radiotherapy (RT): Results of a Swallowing Substudy of NCIC CTG HN.6 (NCT00820248)

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2015
  • Laurelie Wall, BSpPath(Hons) of the Centre for Functioning and Health Research, Queensland Health & the University of Queensland – Poster Presentation: Using Technology to deliver Prophylactic Swallowing Therapy for HNC Patients: Analysis of Consumer Perceptions
  • Thomas Marian, MD of the University of Muenster, Department of Neurology – Oral Presentation: Laryngopharyngeal Sensory Deficit in Patients with MCA-Infarction: Lateralization and Relation to Overall Dysphagia Severity

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2014
  • Stephanie M. Shaw, MS of the University of Toronto – Poster Presentation: Effect of Prophylactic Peg Tube Placement on Swallow Physiology in Patients Undergoing Radiotherapy for Head and Neck Cancer: A Systematic Review
  • Aarthi Madhavan, MA, CCC-SLP of the University of Florida, Swallowing Research Lab – Oral Presentation: Relationships between Dysphagia and Oral Morbidities in Chemoradiation Treated Head and Neck Cancer Patients

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2013
  • Heather Starmer, MA, CCC-SLP of the Johns Hopkins University – Effect of Gabapentin on Swallowing During and After Chemoradiation for Head and Neck Cancer

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2012
  • Giselle Carnaby, PhD, MPH of the University of Florida – Dysphagia Prevention Exercises in Head Neck Cancer: Pharyngocise Dose Response Study

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2011
  • Eileen H. Shinn, PhD of The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center – The Effect of Adherence to Swallowing Exercises on Swallowing Outcomes in Head and Neck Cancer Patients Treated with Radiotherapy

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2010
  • Chandylen Pendley, BS (Psych) – Dysphagia and Quality of Life Following Chemo-Radiation for Head and Neck Cancer

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2009
  • Denise Barringer, MS, CCC-SLP – Dosimetric Predictors of Long-term Dysphagia Following Oropharyngeal IMRT

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2008
  • Katherine Hutcheson, MS, CCC-SLP – Swallowing Outcomes after Induction Chemotherapy with Targeted Molecular Therapy and Radiotherapy for Advanced Stage Head and Neck Cancer

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2007
  • Naomi Wong – Delayed Onset Dysphagia in Post Radiation Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma and Outcomes of Rehabilitation

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