National human temporal bone center for ear and balance disorders
Resource Center for Human Temporal Bone Research, Innovation, and Education
This project will collect, prepare, and share donated human temporal bones to help scientists studying hearing and balance problems.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Minnesota NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Minneapolis, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11139442 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If you or a loved one has had hearing loss, dizziness, or other ear problems, this center will gather donated temporal bones and make high-quality samples available to researchers and trainees. The team will process, digitize, and store specimens, improve techniques to preserve proteins and genetic material, and distribute tissue to qualified labs. They will also create searchable digital records and offer training to expand the number of researchers who can use these samples. Over time this should make it easier for scientists to study real human ear tissue and train the next generation of ear specialists.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal participants are individuals or families willing to donate temporal bones after death, especially those with a history of hearing or vestibular disorders.
Not a fit: People looking for immediate treatments or clinical care will not receive direct benefit from this resource-focused project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Better access to well-preserved human temporal bones could speed discoveries about causes and treatments for hearing and balance disorders.
How similar studies have performed: Temporal bone repositories have supported important discoveries in ear anatomy and disease, and this project aims to modernize and expand that proven approach.
Where this research is happening
Minneapolis, United States
- University of Minnesota — Minneapolis, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Cureoglu, Sebahattin — University of Minnesota
- Study coordinator: Cureoglu, Sebahattin
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.