About

Dr. Jennifer Long is an Associate Professor in Residence in the Department of Head and Neck Surgery at UCLA. Her educational background includes an MD and PhD from the University of Minnesota Medical School, with specialized training in otolaryngology through her residency at UCLA School of Medicine. She completed a fellowship in Laryngology and Voice Disorders at UCLA and has clinical interests in dysphagia and laryngeal disorders. Her research focuses on designing better short- and long-term treatments for head and neck diseases, particularly addressing the long-lasting sequelae of head and neck cancer resection or radiation that can severely impact patients' quality of life. Dr. Long is interested in innovative treatments and rehabilitation modalities to improve both cure rates and quality of life outcomes. Her work involves regenerative medicine techniques that manipulate cells and extracellular matrix at the local site of disease in the head and neck, aiming to enhance treatment efficacy and patient recovery.

Research topics

• Medicine
• Pathology
• Political Science
• Waste management
• Engineering
• Surgery
• Materials science
• Audiology
• Intensive care medicine
• Business
• Medical emergency
• Environmental science

Selected publications

• Enhancing laryngeal cancer diagnosis with dynamic optical contrast imaging

  2025-03-19

  article
  PublisherDOI

• Safety and Toxicity Evaluation of Stem Cell‐Based Vocal Fold Implant in Swine

  The Laryngoscope · 2025-09-23

  articleSenior authorCorresponding

  BACKGROUND/INTRODUCTION: Prior to introduction in humans, new implant technology must be thoroughly assessed with preclinical animal trials. Cell-based or cell-derived therapies undergo FDA evaluation to be granted Investigational New Drug designation prior to human trials. While data required can vary across applications, standard safety and toxicity measures are valuable. We previously described a stem cell-based vocal fold implant for reconstruction of the vibratory vocal fold. This study describes a proposed set of implant release criteria and safety and toxicity evaluation following this implantation in Yucatan minipigs. METHODS: Eight Yucatan minipigs underwent bilateral Cell-based Outer Vocal Fold Replacement (COVR) containing multipotent human adipose stem cells. Perioperative corticosteroids and antibiotics were administered, but no chronic immunosuppressive medications were given. As a control, three additional animals had vocal fold resection without COVR implant and underwent an identical medication regimen. The animals were monitored for 6 months, with interval blood draws to measure basic chemistry, hematologic, and liver function tests. Any adverse events were recorded. RESULTS: Several animals demonstrated minor serologic findings outside of the defined normal range, but none demonstrated severe abnormalities. Adverse events included skin wound dehiscence in two animals and gastrointestinal symptoms accompanied by a temporary behavior change. All adverse events resolved following empiric treatment. Histologic examination demonstrated varying degrees of local immune response. CONCLUSIONS: Hematologic and metabolic safety monitoring has thus far demonstrated no serious toxicity after xenograft vocal fold implantation in immunocompetent swine. Adverse events related to surgical complications are reported. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: N/A.

  PublisherDOI

• Immunocytochemistry assessment of vocal fold regeneration after cell‐based implant in rabbits

  Laryngoscope Investigative Otolaryngology · 2024-10-01 · 1 citations

  articleOpen accessSenior authorCorresponding

  Objective: Cell-based outer vocal fold replacement (COVR) offers a potential treatment for severe vocal fold scarring or cancer reconstruction. Previous work in rabbits using human adipose-derived stem cells (ASC) in fibrin suggested that a hybrid structure emerged within 2 months, containing both implanted and host cells. This project uses immunocytochemistry to better define the phenotypic fate of implanted cells and features of the extracellular environment. Methods: Immunocytochemistry was performed on sections collected from rabbits 2 months after COVR implantation or scar surgery. Cellular targets included human leukocyte antigen (HLA), CD31, and smooth muscle actin (SMA). Results: HLA was present in all implanted sections and was used to identify human cells. In adjacent sections, HLA-positive cells were identified expressing CD31. SMA was not identified in the same cells as HLA. These markers were also present in injured vocal folds not receiving COVR. SMA protein content did not differ according to treatment. Conclusions: Implanted human ASC persist in rabbit vocal folds. Some appear to express CD31, an endothelial marker. Smooth muscle actin, a marker of myofibroblast phenotype, was present in all sections regardless of treatment, and was not identified in hASC. Host cells also infiltrate the structure, producing a hybrid host-graft vocal fold.

  PublisherDOI

• Vocal Fold Injury Produces Similar Biomechanical Outcomes in Male and Female Rabbits

  Journal of Voice · 2024-09-01

  articleOpen accessSenior author

  OBJECTIVE: Sex differences in response to trauma and physiologic stressors have been identified in numerous organ systems but have not yet been defined in the larynx. The objective of this study was to develop an endoscopic vocal fold injury model in rabbits and to compare structural and functional outcomes between male and female subjects. STUDY DESIGN: Basic science study. METHODS: Two male and two female rabbits underwent unilateral endoscopic cordectomy. Animals were intubated with a size 3-0 neonatal endotracheal tube, and laryngoscopy was performed with a 4 mm Hopkins rod telescope. While visualizing, a 2 mm cupped forceps grasped and resected the mid-membranous portion of the right true vocal fold. Larynges were then harvested after 8weeks. Excised larynx phonation with high-speed videography and kymography was used to assess vibrational quality. Tissue elastic (Young's) modulus was measured by indentation. RESULTS: Injured larynges phonated with fundamental frequencies between 237-415 Hz. In both males and females, the scarred vocal fold exhibited an increased Young's modulus compared to the contralateral nonoperated vocal fold. There were no notable differences in glottal closure pattern or vocal fold oscillation symmetry between sexes. CONCLUSION: We have demonstrated a model for vocal fold scarring in rabbits. Vibrational and structural outcomes were similar between the examined male and female larynges.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Voice recovery in eight Yucatan mini-pigs after vocal fold implantation surgery

  The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America · 2023-03-01

  articleSenior author

  As there currently exists no standardized framework to assess pig voice health, and voice parameters designed for humans do often not work on aperiodic pig voice, new approaches must be developed. We performed cell-based outer vocal fold replacement (COVR) surgery in six Yucatan mini-pigs (with two pigs in the control group) and tracked functional and structural voice recovery over up to six months. Recovery of voice function was assessed by tracking acoustic parameters and spectrograms in three pigs. Structural recovery was assessed by histologic analysis and Amino Acid Quantitation after harvest of vocal fold tissue in three pigs each. The results of functional analysis reflect expected voice worsening right after surgery and gradual recovery in one pig that was tracked the longest. Structural analysis shows small differences in fiber directionality between control group and pigs after surgery. Increasing amounts of detected amino acid markers for collagen and elastin over time after surgery may hint on gradual structural recovery. With this preliminary work, we form the basis for a larger long-term pre-clinical safety and efficacy study of COVR implantation.

  PublisherDOI

• Tissue-engineered vocal fold replacement in swine: Methods for functional and structural analysis.

  Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research) · 2023-03-29

  datasetOpen accessSenior author

  S2 Data. 5534 pig squeal events investigated in this study, provided in a folder structure sorted by pigs, pre- / post-treatment and recording date as .wav files.

  PublisherDOI

• Tissue-engineered vocal fold replacement in swine: Methods for functional and structural analysis.

  Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research) · 2023-03-29

  datasetOpen accessSenior author

  S2 Data. 5534 pig squeal events investigated in this study, provided in a folder structure sorted by pigs, pre- / post-treatment and recording date as .wav files.

  PublisherDOI

• Cell‐Based Outer Vocal Fold Replacement Both Treats and Prevents Vocal Fold Scarring in Rabbits

  The Laryngoscope · 2023-08-19 · 5 citations

  articleOpen accessSenior authorCorresponding

  OBJECTIVE: Numerous pharmacological and cell-based treatments have shown promise in preventing vocal fold (VF) scarring when applied at the time of injury. A common clinical scenario, however, is the finding of mature scar impeding voicing. Many treatments are less effective in remodeling existing scar tissue. This objective of this study is to determine if a cell-based outer vocal fold replacement (COVR) effectively restores VF function when applied to existing scar. METHODS: Eighteen rabbits were allocated to three groups: unilateral COVR implant at the time of cordectomy (acute COVR); unilateral cordectomy followed by COVR implant 2 months later (chronic COVR); and unilateral cordectomy followed by sham implant surgery 2 months later (chronic scar). Larynges were harvested 2 months after implant or sham surgery. RESULTS: All larynges in the COVR groups demonstrated human leukocyte antigen labeling on immunohistochemistry (IHC). COVR groups had increased hyaluronic acid content compared with normal. VF stiffness as measured by elastic moduli in acute COVR and chronic COVR were similar to their contralateral unoperated VF. CONCLUSION: COVR implantation in both acutely injured and chronically scarred VF demonstrate persistence of implanted cells, restored tissue biomechanics, and increased hyaluronic acid content. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: NA Laryngoscope, 134:764-772, 2024.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Tissue-engineered vocal fold replacement in swine: Methods for functional and structural analysis

  PLoS ONE · 2023 · 8 citations

  Senior authorCorresponding
  • Medicine
  • Surgery
  • Pathology

  We have developed a cell-based outer vocal fold replacement (COVR) as a potential therapy to improve voice quality after vocal fold (VF) injury, radiation, or tumor resection. The COVR consists of multipotent human adipose-derived stem cells (hASC) embedded within a three-dimensional fibrin scaffold that resembles vocal fold epithelium and lamina propria layers. Previous work has shown improved wound healing in rabbit studies. In this pilot study in pigs, we sought to develop methods for large animal implantation and phonatory assessment. Feasibility, safety, and structural and functional outcomes of the COVR implant are described. Of eight pigs studied, six animals underwent COVR implantation with harvest between 2 weeks and 6 months. Recovery of laryngeal tissue structure was assessed by vibratory and histologic analyses. Recovery of voice function was assessed by investigating acoustic parameters that were derived specifically for pigs. Results showed improved lamina propria qualities relative to an injured control animal at 6 months. Acoustic parameters reflected voice worsening immediately after surgery as expected; acoustics displayed clear voice recovery in the animal followed for 6 months after COVR. These methods form the basis for a larger-scale long-term pre-clinical safety and efficacy study.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Intractable Hiccups Caused by Diaphragmatic Eventration

  Cureus · 2022-04-24 · 2 citations

  articleOpen accessSenior authorCorresponding

  Intractable hiccups are a rare yet debilitating pathology with a broad differential and often indicate a more serious underlying pathology, which can range from neoplasms to structural abnormalities. In this case report, we present a 64-year-old male with seven months of intractable hiccups determined to be caused by eventration of the right hemidiaphragm. The patient was treated with baclofen to treat the hiccups pharmacologically. He was also prescribed voice therapy to establish rescue breathing techniques and reduce laryngospasm. Finally, he was referred to thoracic surgery for further evaluation and potential surgical intervention should his diaphragmatic eventration worsen or cause hypoxemia. To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of an association between diaphragmatic eventration and intractable hiccups. It is important to highlight this addition to the broad differential of intractable hiccups and to emphasize an interdisciplinary approach to workup and treatment of intractable hiccups.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

Recent grants

• Bilayered Vocal Fold Tissue Engineering

  NIH · 2013–2018

• Vocal cord tissue engineering: Pre-clinical scale-up

  NIH · 2018–2020

• Tissue engineering to regenerate functional vocal fold after scarring or tissue loss

  NIH · $3.7M · 2018–2026

Frequent coauthors

• Maie A. St. John

  University of California, Los Angeles

  51 shared

• Dinesh K. Chhetri

  University of California, Los Angeles

  23 shared

• Alexander N. Goel

  Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai

  17 shared

• Steven Haddy

  16 shared

• Karen S. Sibert

  16 shared

• Marilene B. Wang

  16 shared

• Yazeed Alhiyari

  University of California, Los Angeles

  14 shared

• Zhaoyan Zhang

  13 shared

Education

• PhD, Chemical Engineering and Materials Science

  University of Minnesota

• MD, College of Medicine

  University of Minnesota

Awards & honors

• SuperDoctor® Southern California (2023 - 2026)
• SuperDoctor® Southern California, Otolaryngology (2021)
• Super Doctors® Southern California Rising Stars (2020)
• American Laryngological Association fellow (2018)
• Triological Society fellow (2017)