Regrowing inner-ear balance cells to help dizziness and vertigo
Mouse and human vestibular regeneration and function
This project uses a temporary boost of the ATOH1 gene to help damaged balance-sensing cells in the inner ear regrow and mature for adults with dizziness or vertigo from vestibular hair cell loss.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Stanford University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Stanford, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11232297 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
From a patient's perspective, researchers are trying to regrow the tiny hair cells in the inner ear that detect movement and keep you balanced by briefly turning on a key gene, ATOH1. They will test the approach in mice and in human-derived tissue, then track newly made cells to see whether they look and act like normal hair cells using microscopes and electrical testing. The team will also read each cell’s gene activity with single-cell RNA sequencing to compare regenerated cells to healthy ones. Results will guide whether this method could move toward treatments for people with balance loss caused by hair cell damage.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults with chronic dizziness or balance loss caused by damage or degeneration of vestibular hair cells—such as after certain ear surgeries, ototoxic injury, or age-related loss—would be the most relevant candidates.
Not a fit: People whose imbalance stems from central nervous system disorders, complete vestibular nerve loss, or non-hair-cell causes of dizziness are unlikely to benefit from hair cell regeneration.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could restore mature balance-sensing cells and reduce dizziness or vertigo caused by vestibular hair cell loss.
How similar studies have performed: Prior studies showed forcing ATOH1 can produce new hair cells but they often stayed immature, while recent mouse work suggests a transient ATOH1 boost can improve both regeneration and maturation, so the approach is promising but still experimental.
Where this research is happening
Stanford, United States
- Stanford University — Stanford, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Cheng, Alan Gi-Lun — Stanford University
- Study coordinator: Cheng, Alan Gi-Lun
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.