Macrophages and hearing loss from cisplatin
Official title: Roles of Macrophages in Cisplatin-induced Hearing Loss
Funded at University of Iowa · NIH-11402839 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study looks at how immune cells in the ear called macrophages affect and may protect against hearing loss caused by the cancer drug cisplatin.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Iowa NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Iowa City, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2025 |
| Project end | August 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $245,774 |
| NIH project number | 5R00DC021198-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11402839 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients who receive cisplatin and are at risk of hearing loss, or who have inner-ear inflammation-related barriers, could benefit from future therapies developed from this work.
✕Less likely to help
If a patient’s cancer treatment relies on cisplatin’s current regimen without a hearing-protective strategy, they may not benefit from this approach.
What this research studies
Cisplatin helps treat cancer but often damages the inner ear, causing lasting hearing loss in many patients. The project explores how macrophages in the cochlea influence the blood-labyrinth barrier and cisplatin entry into the ear. Researchers will test how blocking macrophage activity with a drug (PLX3397) changes both hearing protection and tumor control in mice, including those with tumors. They will also examine VEGF-A-Flt1 signals as a possible mechanism for macrophage effects on ear barrier permeability. The aim is to identify ways to prevent hearing loss without reducing cisplatin’s cancer-fighting power.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to strategies that protect hearing in cancer patients treated with cisplatin without impairing its effectiveness against tumors.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work suggests macrophage modulation can influence ear barrier function and drug entry, but translating this to human patients remains to be proven.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Iowa
Iowa City, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Sung, Cathy Yea Won — University of Iowa
- Study coordinator: Sung, Cathy Yea Won
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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.