Peptide-guided delivery to the inner ear to prevent hearing loss
Official title: Basic mechanisms in hearing loss of cochlear origin.
Funded at VA San Diego Healthcare System · NIH-11398351 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A study exploring a new peptide-based method to deliver treatments directly into the cochlea to prevent or slow hearing loss in patients with cochlear conditions.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | VA San Diego Healthcare System NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (San Diego, United States) |
| Project start | October 1, 2026 |
| Project end | September 30, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| NIH project number | 2I01RD001347-13A2 |
| Project ID | NIH-11398351 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with cochlear-related hearing loss or at risk of cochlear degeneration, particularly veterans served by VA facilities.
✕Less likely to help
Individuals without cochlear pathology or those whose hearing loss is not related to cochlear mechanisms may not benefit.
What this research studies
This project aims to create a noninvasive way to get therapeutic cargo into the intact inner ear using peptide-mediated transport across the round window membrane. By screening billions of peptides, researchers hope to identify delivery options that can carry large drug packages or gene therapy vectors without damaging the ear’s delicate structures. The work is rooted in the needs of veterans facing hearing loss and seeks a clinically translatable approach to preserve or improve hearing. The plan includes optimizing delivery peptides and comparing their efficiency using advanced sequencing and delivery assays. If successful, this could lead to a new treatment approach that complements cochlear implants and hearing aids.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients could receive noninvasive therapies that better protect or restore hearing, reducing the progression of hearing loss.
How similar studies have gone: Previous approaches to inner ear drug delivery have faced clinical translation challenges, making this a novel and promising strategy with potential for success.
Where this research is happening
-
VA San Diego Healthcare System
San Diego, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Ryan, Allen F. — VA San Diego Healthcare System
- Study coordinator: Ryan, Allen F.
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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.