Advanced imaging techniques for understanding cochlear cell health
Official title: Multimodality Micro-Optical Coherence Tomography for Imaging the Functional Microanatomy of the Human Cochlea
Funded at Stanford University · NIH-11022282 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is working on a new way to take detailed pictures of the tiny cells in the inner ear that help us hear, which could help us understand hearing loss better and see how well new treatments might work, starting with tests in mice before looking at people.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Stanford University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Stanford, United States) |
| Project start | January 7, 2025 |
| Project end | December 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $713,170 |
| NIH project number | 1R01DC022233-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11022282 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are adults with sensorineural hearing loss who may benefit from advanced diagnostic imaging techniques.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with hearing loss due to non-sensorineural causes or those who are not candidates for emerging therapies may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on developing a new imaging tool to visualize the tiny structures and functions of cells in the cochlea, which are crucial for hearing. By using a technique called multimodality micro-optical coherence tomography (MM-µOCT), the researchers aim to capture detailed images of cochlear cells and their metabolic activity. This could help identify the causes of sensorineural hearing loss and assess how well these cells might respond to new treatments like gene therapy. The research will initially test these imaging techniques on mouse cochlea before moving to human applications.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to better diagnosis and treatment options for individuals suffering from irreversible hearing loss.
How similar studies have gone: Similar imaging techniques have shown promise in other areas of medical research, suggesting potential success for this novel approach in cochlear imaging.
Where this research is happening
-
Stanford University
Stanford, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Stankovic, Konstantina M — Stanford University
- Study coordinator: Stankovic, Konstantina M
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.