Hair cell regeneration in zebrafish and its link to human hearing loss
Official title: Zebrafish Sensory Hair Cell Regeneration
Funded at Stowers Institute for Medical Research · NIH-11358445 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This NIH grant study explores how hair cells in zebrafish can regrow and how this knowledge could help develop therapies for hearing loss in people.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Stowers Institute for Medical Research NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Kansas City, United States) |
| Project start | April 1, 2017 |
| Project end | June 30, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $393,938 |
| NIH project number | 5R01DC015488-08 |
| Project ID | NIH-11358445 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates would be people with hearing loss or balance disorders where hair cell regeneration strategies could be applicable in the future.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with hearing or balance loss due to non-hair-cell causes or advanced degeneration may not benefit from this basic science work.
What this research studies
The project uses the zebrafish lateral line and mouse hair cell data to map gene networks that control hair cell fate and maturation. Researchers examine transcription factors like TBX2, INSM1, IKZF2, and newly identified factors such as PRDM1a to understand what drives hair cell regeneration. By comparing zebrafish and mouse models, they aim to uncover shared and distinct gene programs that could guide human strategies for repairing damaged ears. The work includes single-cell RNA sequencing and transcription factor motif analyses to pinpoint direct targets and regulatory interactions. This foundational, translational effort could inform future approaches to regenerate mature hair cells in humans.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the research could pave the way for therapies that restore hearing and balance by regenerating mature sensory hair cells in humans.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies in vertebrate models show hair cell regeneration is possible, but maturation and translation to humans remain challenging, making this approach promising yet exploratory.
Where this research is happening
-
Stowers Institute for Medical Research
Kansas City, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Piotrowski, Tatjana — Stowers Institute for Medical Research
- Study coordinator: Piotrowski, Tatjana
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.