Controlling calcium in inner-ear hearing cells
Calcium Regulation in Cochlear Cells
This project tests whether preventing harmful calcium buildup in the tiny hair cells of the inner ear can help stop age-related hearing loss.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Case Western Reserve University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Cleveland, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11230237 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This project studies how loud sound and aging cause calcium to build up inside mitochondria of the tiny hair cells that sense sound in your inner ear. The team uses lab models, including genetically modified animals lacking a key mitochondrial regulator (Micu1), to compare normal and vulnerable hair cells after acoustic overstimulation. They will measure changes in cell structure, mitochondrial function, and signs of programmed cell death, and test whether preventing calcium overload protects the cells. The goal is to identify molecular targets that could lead to drugs or other therapies to preserve hearing.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with age-related or noise-related hearing loss, and older adults worried about progressive hearing decline, would be most relevant to follow this work.
Not a fit: People with conductive hearing loss from middle-ear problems, congenital deafness, or genetic causes unrelated to mitochondrial dysfunction may not benefit from these mitochondrial-focused approaches.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to new treatments that protect hair cells and slow or prevent age-related hearing loss.
How similar studies have performed: Previous lab and mouse studies have linked mitochondrial calcium overload to hair-cell death, but turning those findings into treatments for age-related hearing loss is still experimental.
Where this research is happening
Cleveland, United States
- Case Western Reserve University — Cleveland, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Stepanyan, Ruben — Case Western Reserve University
- Study coordinator: Stepanyan, Ruben
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 below.