Exploring how blast exposure affects tinnitus and memory problems in veterans
Official title: Alleviating tinnitus and memory deficits induced by blast exposure
Funded at VA Western New York Healthcare System · NIH-10863267 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how tinnitus, or ringing in the ears, might affect memory in veterans who have been exposed to blasts, and it hopes to find ways to help improve both tinnitus and memory problems.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | VA Western New York Healthcare System NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Buffalo, United States) |
| Project start | October 1, 2024 |
| Project end | September 30, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| NIH project number | 1I01RX003969-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-10863267 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are veterans who have experienced blast exposure and suffer from tinnitus and memory problems.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not have a history of blast exposure or do not experience tinnitus or memory deficits may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the relationship between tinnitus and memory deficits in veterans who have experienced blast exposure. It aims to understand how damage to the auditory and limbic systems can exacerbate tinnitus and impair memory. The study will utilize animal models to explore the effects of neural inflammation and adult neurogenesis in the brain, focusing on the correlation between memory issues and the severity of tinnitus. By identifying these connections, the research seeks to develop potential treatments that could alleviate both conditions.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved treatments for tinnitus and memory deficits in veterans, enhancing their quality of life.
How similar studies have gone: While the connection between tinnitus and memory deficits has been minimally explored, preliminary studies suggest that similar approaches may yield valuable insights.
Where this research is happening
-
VA Western New York Healthcare System
Buffalo, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Sun, Wei — VA Western New York Healthcare System
- Study coordinator: Sun, Wei
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Understanding how stress and arousal relate to tinnitus using eye and skin signals
Researchers will test whether easy-to-measure signals like pupil size and skin conductance can reflect how distressing tinnitus feels in adults, especially Veterans.
-
Understanding why age-related hearing loss and tinnitus happen in diverse groups
A study aims to find genetic reasons behind age-related hearing loss and tinnitus in African ancestry and Latino populations.
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Subjective and Somatic Tinnitus: Finding Objective Brain Signals with a Special fNIRS Scan
This grant tests a brain-imaging approach to identify objective brain signals in people with tinnitus, including those whose phantom sounds change with jaw or head movements.
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Hormones, gut bacteria, and blood markers linked to tinnitus in women
This study looks at how hormones, gut microbes, and metabolic signals relate to the start and possible remission of tinnitus in women.
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Understanding age-related hearing loss and tinnitus in diverse communities
This project looks for genetic changes linked to age-related hearing loss and ringing in the ears using large whole-genome datasets, focusing especially on people of African and Latino backgrounds.
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Diagnosing and treating tinnitus linked to head, neck, or jaw problems
This project develops a screening test and a physical-therapy treatment for people—especially Veterans—whose tinnitus changes with head, neck, jaw, or eye movements.
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.