Restoring inner ear hair cells to improve hearing and balance
Hippo-mediated control of growth and regeneration in the inner ear sensory organs
['FUNDING_R01'] · UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA · NIH-11259510
This project tries to restart growth of inner-ear sensory 'hair' cells so adults with hearing or balance loss might regain function.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_R01'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (Los Angeles, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11259510 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
The team is studying why supporting cells in the adult mammalian inner ear stop dividing and whether turning off the Hippo signaling pathway can make them divide and become new hair cells. They will use lab-grown adult utricle tissue and animal experiments to test drugs that temporarily block Hippo signaling and measure whether new hair cells form and improve balance. The researchers will also study how Hippo interacts with the cell-cycle blocker p27Kip1 in the organ of Corti, the part of the ear important for hearing. All work aims to find controlled ways to trigger safe regeneration of sensory cells that are lost in many types of hearing and balance disorders.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults with sensorineural hearing loss or vestibular (balance) problems caused by loss of inner ear hair cells would be the most likely candidates for future therapies stemming from this work.
Not a fit: People whose hearing or balance problems are due to middle-ear disease, nerve/brain pathway damage, or conditions not caused by hair cell loss may not benefit from these approaches.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to therapies that restore hearing and balance by regenerating the inner ear's sensory hair cells.
How similar studies have performed: Lab and animal studies, and examples from fish and birds that naturally regenerate hair cells, suggest Hippo pathway blockade can promote supporting-cell proliferation, but human therapies are still unproven and experimental.
Where this research is happening
Los Angeles, UNITED STATES
- UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA — Los Angeles, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: GNEDEVA, KSENIA — UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
- Study coordinator: GNEDEVA, KSENIA
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.