Alicia K Vose, Ph.D.

Dr. Alicia Vose, PhD CCC-SLP is an Assistant Professor of Neurology at the University of Florida College of Medicine Jacksonville. With over a decade of clinical experience managing dysphagia in ICU and acute care settings, Dr. Vose directs a translational research program dedicated to understanding and restoring swallowing and airway protection in individuals with neurologic injuries, particularly cervical spinal cord injury (SCI) and stroke. Her interdisciplinary research lab integrates clinical and basic science methodologies to elucidate the mechanisms driving laryngeal dysfunction, including impaired swallowing (dysphagia), cough (dystussia), and/or disrupted respiratory-swallow coordination. The lab employs advanced computational biomechanics, including Computational Analysis of Swallowing Mechanics (CASM), videofluoroscopic and endoscopic imaging techniques, and physiological recordings to investigate the sensorimotor control mechanisms governing airway protection. Dr. Vose collaborates extensively with preclinical researchers to model injury-induced neuroplasticity in rodent models and evaluate novel strategies aimed at enhancing motor system plasticity, such as respiratory-based interventions and task-specific rehabilitation approaches.

Central to Dr. Vose’s research objectives is leveraging endogenous neuroplasticity for therapeutic applications. Her ongoing clinical trials and mechanistic investigations explore acute intermittent hypoxia (AIH), intramuscular diaphragm stimulation, and biofeedback-based training as methods to enhance airway protection. Additionally, her research incorporates comprehensive biomarker profiling—including genetic, inflammatory, neurophysiological, imaging-based, and kinematic biomarkers—and utilizes machine learning models to identify patients at risk for chronic aspiration, enabling the development of personalized rehabilitation strategies.

Research interests include: Mechanisms Underlying Normal and Disordered Airway Protection; Swallowing and Respiratory Neuroplasticity; Acute Intermittent Hypoxia; Cervical Spinal Cord Injury