Toe-to-Toe with Ingo

The Role of Basic Science in Laryngology

In the inaugural episode of Toe-to-Toe with Ingo, voice scientist Dr. Ingo Titze is joined by Stanford University laryngologists Dr. Ted Mau and Dr. Elizabeth DiRenzo for an in-depth conversation on the role of basic science in laryngology. Together, they explore how foundational scientific disciplines—acoustics, fluid mechanics, biomechanics, and cellular and molecular biology—inform the study of voice production and influence the diagnosis and treatment of voice disorders. The discussion examines how these scientific principles shape both research and clinical practice, including the training of future laryngologists. The group considers the relative strengths of different research approaches, including human subject research, animal models, bench models, and computer simulations, and discusses how emerging tools such as machine learning and artificial intelligence may change the landscape of voice science in the coming decades. Along the way, the conversation addresses important questions facing the field: Will basic science continue to play a central role in laryngology? How might evolving NIH policies influence the use of animal models in research? And why should clinicians care deeply about the fundamental physics and physiology underlying normal voice production? As the first episode of the series, this discussion sets the tone for Toe-to-Toe with Ingo: thoughtful, rigorous conversations among scientists who are willing to challenge ideas, engage respectfully in disagreement, and work together to advance understanding in voice and speech science.