Balance and Hearing Center to Improve Balance and Hearing Health
Official title: Balance and Auditory Research Center (BARC)
Funded at University of Mississippi Med Ctr · NIH-11400980 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A center-based program at the University of Mississippi Medical Center aims to understand why balance and hearing problems happen, so doctors can diagnose and treat them better for people of all ages.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Mississippi Med Ctr NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Jackson, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2025 |
| Project end | July 31, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $2,324,974 |
| NIH project number | 5P20GM156708-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11400980 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People with balance or hearing disorders, including children with congenital hearing loss and older adults facing falls and cognitive decline, may benefit from future advances.
✕Less likely to help
Some participants may not directly benefit if their condition is outside the studied balance or hearing disorders or if they do not qualify for specific studies under the center’s programs.
What this research studies
BARC brings together researchers to study how balance and hearing work together and how problems in one area affect overall health. The project focuses on genetic, structural, and brain-based factors that cause vestibular and auditory disorders. By building a strong group of investigators, the center plans to develop new diagnostic tools, therapies, and rehabilitation approaches for patients with balance or hearing impairments. This initiative emphasizes translating scientific findings into practical care that improves quality of life for individuals with these conditions.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients could receive earlier and more accurate diagnoses and access better treatments for balance and hearing disorders.
How similar studies have gone: Other centers have shown that building targeted research programs can accelerate diagnostics and therapies for sensory disorders, but BAR C’s focus on balance and hearing is relatively unique.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Mississippi Med Ctr
Jackson, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Zhou, Wu — University of Mississippi Med Ctr
- Study coordinator: Zhou, Wu
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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.