How the inner ear might regrow lost hearing cells
Molecular basis of mammalian cochlear regeneration
Researchers are trying to use specific genes to help inner-ear supporting cells make new hearing cells for people with sensorineural hearing loss.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Stanford University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Stanford, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11323500 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This work uses mouse inner ears to learn how supporting cells and greater epithelial ridge (GER) cells can become new cochlear hair cells and supporting cells. The team will test single and combined transcription factors to encourage dividing (mitotic) regeneration and to improve the number and maturity of new hair cells. They use genetic mouse models, damage-based regeneration experiments, and cell-tracing and molecular analyses to track how new cells form and mature. The findings are meant to guide future approaches that could be translated into therapies for human hearing loss.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults with sensorineural hearing loss caused primarily by loss of cochlear hair cells would be the eventual candidates for therapies stemming from this work.
Not a fit: People whose hearing loss is due mainly to non-cochlear causes (for example, middle-ear conductive problems) or extensive auditory nerve degeneration may not benefit from hair-cell regeneration approaches.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could point toward treatments that restore lost cochlear hair cells and help reverse sensorineural hearing loss.
How similar studies have performed: Prior lab studies in mice have shown that specific transcription factors can convert supporting cells into hair-cell–like cells, but they have produced limited numbers of cells and incomplete maturation.
Where this research is happening
Stanford, United States
- Stanford University — Stanford, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Cheng, Alan Gi-Lun — Stanford University
- Study coordinator: Cheng, Alan Gi-Lun
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.