Predicting hearing loss caused by medications using machine learning.
Official title: Development and in vivo validation of a machine learning platform to predict ototoxic potential of pharmaceuticals
Funded at Rewire Neuroscience, LLC · NIH-10759357 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is working on a smart online tool that helps drug developers figure out if new medications might cause hearing loss, so they can avoid giving patients harmful side effects.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Rewire Neuroscience, LLC NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Portland, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2024 |
| Project end | April 30, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $275,737 |
| NIH project number | 1R41DC021390-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-10759357 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals who are at risk of hearing loss due to medication, particularly elderly patients who may already have pre-existing hearing conditions.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not taking medications known to cause ototoxicity or those without any risk factors for hearing loss may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on developing a machine learning platform that can predict the potential for hearing loss caused by various pharmaceuticals. By analyzing chemical and molecular features of new drugs and comparing them to a database of known ototoxic and non-ototoxic substances, the researchers aim to identify drugs that may pose a risk of hearing impairment. The project seeks to create a user-friendly online portal that allows pharmaceutical developers to assess the ototoxic potential of their compounds early in the drug development process, thereby preventing harmful side effects in patients. The study will involve optimizing and experimentally testing this prediction technology to ensure its accuracy and reliability.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could significantly reduce the incidence of drug-induced hearing loss in patients by enabling safer medication development.
How similar studies have gone: Other research has shown success with similar machine learning approaches in predicting toxicity for various organs, indicating a promising avenue for this novel application.
Where this research is happening
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Rewire Neuroscience, LLC
Portland, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Harkness, John H — Rewire Neuroscience, LLC
- Study coordinator: Harkness, John H
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.