Improving delivery of treatments for hearing loss using tiny vesicles in pigs
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-11173989 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is exploring a new way to deliver treatments directly into the inner ear to help prevent and treat hearing loss, using a pig model to see how well these treatments can work, which could lead to easier, non-surgical options for people with hearing issues.
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 | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $249,000 |
| NIH project number | 4R00DC019960-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11173989 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals experiencing hearing loss or at risk of developing it, particularly those who may benefit from advanced therapeutic interventions.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with hearing loss due to irreversible damage or those who do not respond to therapeutic interventions may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research aims to develop a new method for delivering therapeutic agents directly into the inner ear to treat and prevent hearing loss. Using a pig model, which closely resembles human anatomy, the researchers will create a system to study how well these treatments can pass through the round window membrane of the cochlea. The focus is on enhancing the delivery of nanovesicles, including exosomes, to ensure effective transport of therapeutic substances. This approach could lead to non-surgical methods for administering treatments that could regenerate hearing.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to innovative non-surgical treatments for hearing loss, improving the quality of life for many patients.
How similar studies have gone: While the approach of using nanovesicles for drug delivery is gaining traction, this specific method of enhancing intratympanic delivery in a large animal model is relatively novel and has not been extensively tested.
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.