National Foundation of Swallowing Disorders

03/10/2026

We invite adults living with dysphagia and their loved ones in the United States to join our next Virtual Support Group Meeting on Friday, March 13 at 2:00 PM Pacific / 5:00 PM Eastern.

These one-hour gatherings provide a welcoming, supportive space to connect with others who understand the challenges of swallowing disorders, share experiences, and learn from one another. The meetings are facilitated by healthcare professionals and are open to patients, caregivers, and family members. This is not a replacement for medical advice or treatment recommendations.

Registration is free, but required: https://swallowingdisorderfoundation.com/virtual-support-group/

03/09/2026

🏆 Congratulations to Dr. Mari Nakao, winner of the 2026 Michael Donovan Advocacy Award!

Mari is recognized for her powerful advocacy work, “The family care burden and mental health of caregivers for patients with dysphagia in Japan.” Inspired by her experience caring for her father, Mari’s work highlights the often unseen burdens faced by families supporting loved ones with swallowing disorders.

Through research, education, and clinical collaboration, Mari is helping bring caregiver experiences into the conversation—ensuring that the voices of dysphagia families are seen, heard, and supported.

👏 Join us in celebrating Mari and her commitment to advancing compassionate, family-centered dysphagia care.

03/09/2026

Do you have patients suffering from xerostomia (dry mouth) as a result of radiation treatment for head and neck cancer?

, a biotechnology company, is currently enrolling a phase 2 clinical study at sites across the country.

If you have any patients who suffer from this terrible condition who might be interested in pre-screening or learning more about the study, they can visit www.aquax2study.com.

There is also a short questionnaire that can be filled out on the website for pre-screening. If a patient qualifies, they will be contacted directly by the study patient coordinator. https://aquax2study.com/find-out-if-you-qualify/

If you are interested in speaking with someone from MeiraGTx to learn more about the study, you can email them directly at patients@meiragtx.com.

03/06/2026

Paid Research Opportunity for the NFOSD Community:

Are you (or someone you care for) using oral nutritional supplements or enteral feeding? Researchers want to learn from your experience.

A research team is seeking U.S.-based patients and caregivers to share their perspectives on living with conditions that may require nutritional support. Insights from this study will help better understand unmet needs and treatment experiences.

What’s involved:
• A 15-minute online survey
• $30 thank-you payment for participating
• Responses are anonymous and voluntary

Who can participate:
• Adults 18+ or caregivers/parents of patients age 1+
• Living in the United States
• Diagnosed with dysphagia

This research is being conducted by Liberating Research, a patient-focused research community that works with healthcare and pharmaceutical organizations to better understand patient experiences.

Interested in participating?
Learn more and sign up here: www.liberatingresearch.com

NFOSD shares research opportunities that may be of interest to the swallowing disorders community. Participation is optional, and NFOSD does not endorse specific companies or studies.

03/05/2026

📢 Research Opportunity: Share Your Experience with Dysphagia and Eating Out

We would like to share a research opportunity from Hannah Plumbe, an MSc Speech and Language Therapy student at Manchester Metropolitan University.

Hannah is conducting a qualitative research study exploring the lived experiences of people with dysphagia (swallowing difficulties) when eating outside the home. The goal of this project is to better understand the challenges and perspectives of individuals with dysphagia in community dining settings.

Participation involves a confidential online interview conducted via Microsoft Teams, scheduled at a time that is convenient for participants. All responses and results will be kept strictly confidential.

If you or someone you know has dysphagia and may be interested in sharing their experience, please consider participating or helping spread the word.

📧 To learn more or express interest, contact:
Hannah Plumbe at HANNAH.J.PLUMBE@stu.mmu.ac.uk

03/05/2026

💬 Canadian Dysphagia Support Group – March Meeting

If you or someone you care for is living with a swallowing disorder, connecting with others who understand can make a meaningful difference. The Aging Swallow Research Lab is hosting a free virtual Canadian Dysphagia Support Group for adults with dysphagia and their caregivers.

🗓 Date: March 26 at 4:00pm EST
💻 Format: Virtual (Zoom)
👥 Who can attend: Adults living with dysphagia and caregivers residing in Canada
🎟 Cost: Free
🔗 https://tinyurl.com/DysphagiasupportMarch2026

Support groups are not a substitute for medical care, but they can be a valuable way to build community and learn from others navigating similar experiences.

03/05/2026

The National Foundation of Swallowing Disorders is pleased to support this upcoming educational webinar hosted by in partnership with and .

Don’t miss this FREE webinar on how clinical trials might fit into your care. On March 19, hear from leading expert Dr. Lori Wirth along with cancer survivors who will share real-world perspectives about participating in clinical trials.

This session will provide a clear roadmap for anyone considering a trial and help you feel more informed, more confident, and better prepared to discuss next steps with your care team.

Registration is free: 👉 https://thanc.me/march2026

02/16/2026

Learn more about dysphagia from an expert, a patient, and a caregiver:

In this video, you’ll learn about dysphagia (difficulty swallowing), how speech-language pathologists assess swallowing using videofluoroscopic swallowing st...

02/12/2026

You are invited to join the Canadian Dysphagia Support Group on February 25! Open to all Canadians with dysphagia and their loved ones.

More info:

https://tinyurl.com/DysphagiasupportFeb2026
mcmaster

01/14/2026

🚀 Meet the Maker: Progia Medical

Curious about innovative tools for dysphagia therapy? Join us Feb 26 at 3 pm ET to learn about the Progia STS™ — a personalized, tech-forward system designed to strengthen swallowing muscles and support better outcomes.

📅 Thu, Feb 26 • ⏰ 3:00 pm ET • 🕐 1 hour 💸 FREE

🎓 No ASHA CEUs (Certificate of participation provided)

👉 Register now: https://swallowingdisorderfoundation.com/meet-the-maker-progia-medical/

01/12/2026

Join a free, virtual Swallowing Support Group hosted in collaboration with Boston University.

This monthly Zoom-based group offers a supportive space to connect with others who understand the daily challenges of dysphagia, share experiences, and learn practical tips and strategies. Meetings are moderated by a board-certified swallowing specialist and co-facilitated by Boston University speech-language pathology graduate students, with expert guest speakers featured throughout the year.

🕛 Meeting time: 12:00–1:00 pm ET
💻 Format: Virtual (Zoom)
👥 Who can attend: Adults (18+) with dysphagia and their caregivers/family members in Massachusetts.

To receive the Zoom link or learn more, contact Kelly Hansen, MS, CCC-SLP, BCS-S at kehansen@bu.edu

💙 Support, connection, and community—no cost to attend.

01/09/2026

This powerful documentary explores the groundbreaking Salivary Trial a pioneering research project aiming to restore natural saliva production for patients affected by head and neck cancer treatment.

Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aH3TVc3KA5s

Featuring honest and moving patient stories alongside insights from leading health professionals, this film captures the real impact of dry mouth (xerostomia) after radiotherapy and the hope that new science brings for recovery, dignity, and quality of life.

💬 Hear from those directly involved patients, clinicians, and researchers as they share their experiences, challenges, and vision for the future of salivary gland regeneration.

📍 Produced by The Swallows Head & Neck Cancer Charity, this film shines a light on innovation, compassion, and the power of patient-led research.

MeriaGTX: The Salivary Trial – A Journey of Hope and InnovationThis powerful documentary explores the groundbreaking Salivary Trial a pioneering research pro...