Light-based imaging of inner ear fluid
OCT imaging of the human inner ear
['FUNDING_R01'] · UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA · NIH-11237555
This project uses a safe, low-power light scanner during certain ear surgeries to measure fluid levels in adults with Meniere’s disease, vestibular schwannoma, and people with normal inner-ear function.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_R01'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (Los Angeles, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11237555 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
You would have a low-power optical coherence tomography (OCT) scan performed while already having mastoid surgery, which lets surgeons see the fluid spaces inside the inner ear. The team has built a device that images the lateral semicircular canal and measures the ratio of endolymph (inner-ear fluid) to perilymph. They will compare that fluid ratio in adults with Meniere’s disease or vestibular schwannoma to adults who have normal cochlear function but are having middle ear surgery. The goal is to learn whether elevated inner-ear fluid is linked to hearing and balance problems.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults (21+) who are having mastoid or related ear surgery for Meniere’s disease, vestibular schwannoma, or for middle ear disease with normal cochlear function are the intended participants.
Not a fit: People who are not having surgery on the mastoid/inner ear, children under 21, or those whose hearing loss is due to non-inner-ear causes are unlikely to be eligible or benefit directly.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could help doctors diagnose causes of sudden hearing loss and guide better treatments for inner-ear disorders like Meniere’s disease.
How similar studies have performed: Post-mortem human tissue and animal studies have suggested inner-ear fluid changes, and intraoperative OCT in humans is a novel technique with promising early data but not yet widely proven.
Where this research is happening
Los Angeles, UNITED STATES
- UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA — Los Angeles, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: OGHALAI, JOHN S — UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
- Study coordinator: OGHALAI, JOHN S
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.