Enhanced delivery of hearing-restore therapeutics to the inner ear using nanovesicles in a pig model
Official title: Enhanced intratympanic delivery of therapeutics to treat and prevent hearing loss using nanovesicles in the porcine model
Funded at University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh · NIH-11393687 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Aims to test a safe, non-surgical way to deliver regenerative therapies into the inner ear of pigs using tiny vesicles to help prevent or treat hearing loss.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Pittsburgh, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2024 |
| Project end | August 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $249,000 |
| NIH project number | 5R00DC019960-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11393687 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates would be individuals at risk of hearing loss or with early-stage hearing loss where future inner-ear therapies could be applicable.
✕Less likely to help
People with hearing loss due to factors not addressed by intratympanic delivery or those not suitable for future intra-cochlear therapies may not benefit.
What this research studies
This project uses a pig model to study how nanovesicles can carry therapeutic substances across the round window membrane into the inner ear. Researchers will develop an ex-vivo porcine model that mimics the human ear to observe how well these vesicles move through the membrane. The goal is to identify conditions that improve high‑efficiency delivery of therapeutics to the inner ear, with the hope of enabling future non-surgical treatments for hearing loss.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could lead to non-invasive or less invasive methods for delivering therapies to restore or protect hearing in people.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work in animal models supports the concept that nanovesicles can deliver cargo to inner ear tissues, but human translation remains to be established.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Moatti, Adele — University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh
- Study coordinator: Moatti, Adele
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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.