Facial Paralysis Research

The Facial Paralysis and Bell’s Palsy Foundation is committed to funding and supporting the latest research within the medical community to advance new developments in facial paralysis treatment.

The foundation is currently supporting a research project underway at Cedars Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles. Led by Dr. Silvia Kurtovic, the study seeks to gain a better understanding of synkinesis, a phenomenon common to facial paralysis patients in which injured nerve fibers reconnect to the incorrect muscle group, causing undesired and simultaneous facial movements in patients.

By using a genetically engineered mouse that expresses multicolor fluorescence within the facial nerve, the researchers hope to gain better visualization and understanding as to why regenerating nerve cells fail to reestablish connections to their anatomic muscle groups in the face. In future studies using this animal model, they plan to apply various treatment modules in order to guide misdirected regenerating nerve cells to their appropriate target muscles.