Researchers
The University of Auckland Swallowing Research Laboratory is currently located at the Grafton Campus in the Discipline of Speech Science, School of Psychology, Faculty of Science and sits as one of the Clinical Neuroscience Research Teams in the Centre of Brain Research.
Dr Anna Miles, PhD, a speech-language therapist leads the Swallowing Research Laboratory in close collaboration with Dr Jacqui Allen, a Consultant Laryngologist in the Surgical Department of the Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences.
Current Research
The Swallowing Research Laboratory at The University of Auckland strives to improve the lives of people with swallowing difficulties through improved assessment, treatment and medical education in the field of dysphagia. The laboratory hopes to reduce the risks of pneumonia and death associated with swallowing difficulties as well as improve the quality of life of people who struggle with this condition.
Relationship to MND
The team currently collects data on patients referred for swallowing assessment across all aetiologies including motor neuron disease. This allows us to assess the specific effects of motor neuron disease on swallowing in comparison to other diseases and to the healthy population. A number of our treatment studies have potential to be effective for people with motor neuron disease and we are currently seeking doctoral funding to support this work.
Collaborations
The University of Auckland Swallowing Research Laboratory has strong international collaborations with University California, Davis and University of Queensland among others. Internally, it works between Faculty of Medical Health Sciences, Food Science and Psychology.
Resources
The Swallowing Research Laboratory has an increasing database of videofluoroscopic swallowing studies and endoscopic swallowing studies of people with motor neuron disease carefully mapping swallowing physiology across and within patients.
The Team
The Swallowing Research Laboratory is an enthusiastic group of academics, clinicians, doctoral students, medical students and speech-language therapy students.
Contact
Anna Miles PhD
Speech-language Therapist
Vice President / Professional Standards Portfolio Holder, Executive Council, New Zealand Speech-language Therapists’ Association
Expert Advisor to New Zealand Speech-language Therapists’ Association (NZSTA) – Adult Dysphagia Senior Lecturer, Speech Science, School of Psychology – Leading psychological science, scholarship and practice
Address: Office 507.2066, Building 507
Grafton Campus, Park Road
The University of Auckland
Private Bag 92019, Auckland, New Zealand
Phone: +64 9 923 8177 Fax: +64 9 373 7902
Email: a.miles@auckland.ac.nz
Website: https://www.fmhs.auckland.ac.nz/en/faculty/cbr/our-research/research-teams/clinical-neuroscience/swallowing-research-laboratory.html
