Cochlear nerve connections and hearing loss in human temporal bones
Official title: Cochlear synaptopathy and audiometric measures from human temporal-bone cases of sensorineural hearing loss
Funded at Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary · NIH-11397420 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A large, patient-facing research effort analyzes how nerve connections in the inner ear deteriorate in people with sensorineural hearing loss by studying post-mortem human temporal bones.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project start | August 2, 2017 |
| Project end | July 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $575,200 |
| NIH project number | 5P50DC015857-10 |
| Project ID | NIH-11397420 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are individuals with sensorineural hearing loss whose temporal bones are available for post-mortem study, contributing to the broader understanding of ear aging and damage.
✕Less likely to help
Individuals without access to temporal bone donation or with non-neural forms of hearing loss may see limited direct benefit.
What this research studies
This program uses donated temporal bone tissue to study why some people lose hearing and how nerve connections between ear cells and the auditory nerve break down. Researchers compare aging-related changes with those caused by noise exposure and drug-related ear damage to understand how these factors affect speech understanding and tinnitus. The findings may inform future ways to preserve or restore hearing by targeting neural loss, not just hair cells. Participation would come through tissue donation and may influence future therapies for acquired hearing loss.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Understanding neural degeneration in the inner ear could lead to new approaches for preventing or treating difficult-to-hear situations like understanding speech in noise and reducing tinnitus.
How similar studies have gone: Past work has shown neural loss can progress faster than hair cell loss and impact speech understanding, supporting the potential of this approach.
Where this research is happening
-
Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Liberman, M. Charles — Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary
- Study coordinator: Liberman, M. Charles
Related research
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Why some adults get tinnitus, sound sensitivity, or trouble hearing in noisy places
Researchers will link ear-nerve damage and the brain's overreaction to explain tinnitus, sound sensitivity, and difficulty hearing in background noise in adults with sensorineural hearing loss.
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.