What do you get when you mix a surgeon, a scientist, and a self-proclaimed “tinkerer” who also happens to struggle with reflux? You get Dr. James Daniero—and you get this conversation about RefluxRaft.
In this episode, Theresa Richard chats with Dr. Daniero, an ENT who’s not just treating voice, airway, and swallowing disorders—he’s innovating them. From basement experiments to biomaterials backed by NIH grants, Dr. Daniero walks us through how his personal journey with reflux turned into RefluxRaft, a barrier-based solution designed to help patients (and clinicians) think beyond PPIs.
We dive into the science behind alginates, the “physics problem” behind reflux, and the collaborative power between ENTs, SLPs, and GIs. This one’s for the med SLPs who want to understand the why behind the symptoms—and the potential tools to help.
Key takeaways:
- How reflux is more physics than acid
- Why alginates might help patients get off PPIs
- What RefluxRaft is and how it came to life
- Where SLPs fit into the reflux management conversation
- Why innovation in patient care starts with listening
Learn more about RefluxRaft at RefluxRaft.com
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RefluxRaft.com
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Dr. James Daniero is a surgeon-scientist entrepreneur serving as Associate Professor with Tenure at the University of Virginia (UVA) Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery. As a fellowship-trained laryngologist, Dr. Daniero specializes in treating complex voice, airway, and swallowing disorders. Integrating multidisciplinary clinical excellence with innovative research, his pioneering work includes founding both UVA’s Division of Laryngology and Voice Care and the Division of Research. With a scientific background supported by a Master of Science in Biotechnology from Georgetown University and post-doctoral training at Vanderbilt’s Laryngeal Biology Laboratory, Dr. Daniero now devotes significant effort towards NIH-funded translational research (currently an R01 and R21). He is particularly focused on developing porous polyethylene glycol-based hydrogels for head and neck applications that are now in the early stages of commercialization. His entrepreneurial spirit has led him to co-found several companies based upon developing solutions for the unmet clinical needs of his patients. Dr. Daniero’s practice specializes in the medical and surgical treatment of laryngeal and esophageal disorders, including chronic throat pain, acid reflux and difficulty swallowing. Alongside of his patients, he has also personally struggled with acid reflux, and co-founding RefluxRaft is the product of many basement lab experiments in pursuit of the best solution for preventing these symptoms.
