The ILVR was founded in 2003 by a small group of committed patients suffering from throat, larynx and voice problems. They realized that in a communications-based world in which effective vocal expression is of paramount importance, a millions of parents, grandparents, academics, business executives, clergy, entertainers, lawyers, politicians, statesmen, and others are suffering from substantial voice difficulties. Many have compromised voices and airway/breathing restriction because of cancer, other diseases and injuries.

The ILVR directors became determined:

• to bring state-of-the-art care that they received to all patients through public awareness and education
• to fund further breakthrough medical solutions based on creative research including the development of highly specialized lasers and other surgical techniques.

With the help of the ILVR as well as committed surgeons, scientists and voice therapists, there is now the promise that the voices of individuals with even the most serious damage can be successfully restored and that voice loss may mostly disappear in the not-so-distant future.