Improving medicines delivered through the middle ear to prevent and treat hearing loss
Enhanced intratympanic delivery of therapeutics to treat and prevent hearing loss using nanovesicles in the porcine model
This project develops tiny vesicle carriers to help medicines given through the middle ear reach the inner ear for people with or at risk for hearing loss.
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 ID | NIH-11180483 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
From my perspective as a patient, researchers are using pig ear tissue and an ex‑vivo model of the round window membrane to track how nanovesicles (like exosomes) carry drug cargo into the inner ear. They will test different conditions that might allow these tiny carriers to pass through the membrane without surgery and deliver regenerative therapies to the cochlea. The team uses a pig model because its ear size and biology are closer to humans than rodents, which helps predict human outcomes. If the method works in this large‑animal system, it could guide future human treatments and clinical trials.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates in the future would be people with or at risk for sensorineural hearing loss who might receive inner‑ear regenerative therapies.
Not a fit: People whose hearing loss is from outer or middle ear mechanical problems (conductive loss) or who need immediate surgical repair are less likely to benefit from this approach.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could enable less invasive, non‑surgical delivery of regenerative drugs to the inner ear, potentially improving treatment options for hearing loss.
How similar studies have performed: Related preclinical work using intratympanic delivery and nanovesicles has shown promising transport into the inner ear in animal models, but human benefit has not yet been established.
Where this research is happening
Pittsburgh, United States
- University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh — Pittsburgh, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Moatti, Adele — University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh
- Study coordinator: Moatti, Adele
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.