About Our Lab
The Swallowing & Salivary Bioscience Lab is a translational research program focused on dysphagia, or swallowing dysfunction, in patients with Alzheimer’s disease. The goal of our work is to systematically identify and characterize factors underlying dysphagia in patients with Alzheimer’s disease and then to translate these findings into novel, evidence-based treatments for maintenance of quality of life and prevention of pneumonia onset. Specific research interests include the effects of intensive dysphagia rehabilitation, including tongue strengthening, on swallow function and health status; the feasibility of exercise-based approaches to dysphagia treatment for patients with early-stage Alzheimer’s disease; and the impact of oral microbial profiles and saliva production on oral health and pneumonia risk in patients with dysphagia.
Research Goal & Focus Areas
To improve the identification of dysphagia in older adults and to develop novel evidence-based interventions for the prevention of adverse health outcomes by:
- Improving and validating tools for identification and diagnosis of dysphagia in older adults
- Identifying biomarkers that predict aspiration and pneumonia development in older adults with dysphagia
- Determining the efficacy of novel dysphagia interventions in a variety of patient groups, including those with Alzheimer’s disease
News
Dr. Rogus-Pulia Receives a Golden Bucky
July 13th, 2025 Dr. Rogus-Pulia received a Golden Bucky during the Summer Picnic of the Department of Medicine for her work in elevating and improving mentorship within the department! Congratulations to Dr. Rogus-Pulia and the …
Dr. Rogus-Pulia Receives the Linda and Howard Stern Faculty Fellowship in Dysphagia
June 18th, 2025 Dr. Rogus-Pulia was honored with the Linda and Howard Stern Faculty Fellowship during the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health’s Faculty Investiture Celebration to expend her research program. Congratulations …
Joanne Yee Receives the DRS New Investigator Award and the Sumiko Okada International Fellowship Award
March 28th, 2025 Joanne Yee received the DRS New Investigator Award and the Sumiko Okada International Fellowship Award during the 33rd Annual Dysphagia Research Society meeting in Philadelphia for her work on feasibility and utility …
Danielle Brates – REC Roundup Spotlight
August 7th, 2023 Check out the REC Roundup for the week of August 7th, 2023 to see a spotlight on our postdoctoral fellow, Danielle Brates! Danielle is currently collecting data to examine the prevalence and …
- More news from the lab
