Protecting the hearing nerve after loud-noise damage
Official title: Prevention of auditory nerve degeneration in noise-induced hearing loss
Funded at Ralph H Johnson VA Medical Center · NIH-11206912 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project develops treatments to protect the auditory nerve after loud-noise injury for adults, including military veterans.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Ralph H Johnson VA Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Charleston, United States) |
| Project start | October 1, 2024 |
| Project end | September 30, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| NIH project number | 5I01BX006478-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11206912 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults (21+) with hearing loss linked to loud-noise exposure, especially military veterans, would be the most relevant group for future clinical testing.
✕Less likely to help
People whose hearing loss is primarily from aging, congenital causes, or central (brain) auditory disorders may not benefit from these specific nerve-protection approaches.
What this research studies
If you have hearing problems from loud-noise exposure, this research looks at why the nerve that carries sound to the brain gets damaged and how to stop it. The team focuses on glial cells and a set of RNA-binding proteins called QKI that affect the nerve's myelin, using lab experiments and animal models to track changes after noise. They will test approaches that preserve or repair myelin and nerve function in preclinical models to find candidates for future human trials. Findings are intended to guide new prevention strategies that could help veterans and others with noise-induced hearing loss.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to treatments that prevent or reduce long-term hearing nerve damage after loud-noise exposure.
How similar studies have gone: Related preclinical work targeting myelin and glial support has shown promise in animals, but there are currently no FDA-approved drugs for preventing noise-induced hearing loss in humans.
Where this research is happening
-
Ralph H Johnson VA Medical Center
Charleston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Lang, Hainan — Ralph H Johnson VA Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Lang, Hainan
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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.