Two basic research programs exist within the OHSU Department of Otolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery.

The Oregon Hearing Research Center
The Oregon Hearing Research Center (OHRC), directed by Alfred L. Nuttall, Ph.D., conducts basic research into the fundamental neurobiology of the auditory and vestibular systems. Ten basic science faculty members, three of whom also hold appointments in the Vollum Institute, focus on mechanoreceptor mechanisms, hair cell function, cochlear mechanics, cochlear homeostasis, mechanisms of hearing loss, and central auditory function. In addition, four faculty members constitute the Tinnitus Clinic (http://www.ohsu.edu/ohrc/tinnitusclinic/), which treats and investigates the genesis of this disorder of the auditory system. The OHRC also develops and tests new chemical, mechanical, and electrical solutions for hearing problems.

Division of Molecular Biology - Head and Neck Cancer Research
The Division of Molecular Biology - Head and Neck Cancer Research, led by Xiao-Jing Wang, M.D., Ph.D., conducts research on molecular mechanisms of tumor invasion during epithelial carcinogenesis. Research fields include: cancer biology, cell biology, developmental biology, gene regulation, and signal transduction.