Targeted mild cooling to prevent hearing loss
Official title: Development of a dynamic hypothermia protocol for hearing loss prevention
Funded at University of North Texas · NIH-11360998 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project develops a non-invasive, targeted mild cooling approach to help adults at risk of hearing loss from loud noise or certain medical treatments.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R15 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of North Texas NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Denton, United States) |
| Project start | May 1, 2026 |
| Project end | April 30, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $535,758 |
| NIH project number | 1R15DC023030-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11360998 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are adults (21+) at higher risk for hearing loss — for example firefighters, military personnel, musicians, or patients receiving ototoxic chemotherapy — who can safely undergo mild cooling.
✕Less likely to help
People with long-standing severe sensorineural hearing loss, implanted hearing devices incompatible with external cooling, or medical conditions that make hypothermia unsafe are unlikely to benefit.
What this research studies
You would be offered a non-invasive cooling approach aimed at protecting the inner ear, with the plan tailored to how your ear and nearby blood vessels are shaped. The team will build detailed computer models of the cochlea and blood flow, then test those models in lab experiments to find safe and effective cooling patterns. Engineers will use those results to design a device that delivers controlled cooling to the ear region without harming nearby tissues. The work focuses on people exposed to occupational noise or to treatments such as certain chemotherapies that can damage hearing.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could reduce the risk of permanent hearing loss and its downstream effects on communication, mood, and cognition.
How similar studies have gone: Cooling has shown protective effects in animal studies and some clinical areas, but precise, non-invasive cochlear cooling for hearing preservation is relatively novel and not yet proven in humans.
Where this research is happening
-
University of North Texas
Denton, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Esmailie, Fateme — University of North Texas
- Study coordinator: Esmailie, Fateme
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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.