How calcium affects inner-ear hair cells
Intracellular Calcium in Hair Cells
This project looks at how changes in calcium and specific proteins in inner-ear hair cells change the electrical signals that underlie hearing, using mice that carry mutations linked to inherited deafness.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Wisconsin-Madison NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Madison, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11289437 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
From a patient's perspective, this research studies tiny sensory hair cells in the inner ear to learn how calcium and proteins like TMC1 and LHFPL5 control their ability to convert sound into electrical signals. Scientists use genetically altered mice and record electrical currents from isolated cochleae to see how different Tmc1 mutations change channel function and when the channels stop working in the days after birth. They will map parts of the TMC1 protein that form the channel pore, test how LHFPL5 helps the channel open and adapt, and explore why mechanotransduction declines in specific mutants. The goal is to explain mechanisms behind some inherited forms of hearing loss and point toward future therapies.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with inherited sensorineural hearing loss caused by mutations in TMC1 or related hair-cell genes would be most relevant for future clinical studies informed by this work.
Not a fit: Patients whose hearing loss is primarily due to non-genetic causes such as noise exposure or age-related degeneration are less likely to benefit directly from this basic genetic research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could clarify how genetic mutations disrupt hair cell signaling and guide development of targeted treatments for inherited hearing loss.
How similar studies have performed: Prior mouse and molecular studies have supported TMC1's central role in hair-cell mechanotransduction, but translating those findings into therapies remains at an early stage.
Where this research is happening
Madison, United States
- University of Wisconsin-Madison — Madison, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Fettiplace, Robert — University of Wisconsin-Madison
- Study coordinator: Fettiplace, Robert
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.