Turning inner-ear supporting cells into hearing hair cells after birth
Determination of Hair Cell Fate from Postnatal Cochlear Supporting Cells
Researchers are trying drugs and gene-based tools to reopen young-like gene activity in inner-ear support cells so they can become hearing hair cells in newborns and adults.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11324233 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If I have hearing loss, this team is looking at why adult mammals lose the ability to regrow the tiny sensory (hair) cells in the inner ear and how to reverse that loss. They compare newborn and adult cochleas and measure which genes are accessible using chromatin assays like ATAC-seq. The researchers will test three epigenetic modifiers (including histone deacetylase inhibitors and targets Tcf4, Setd7, Lsd1) and use CRISPR-dCas9 epigenetic tools to try to restore activity of key genes such as Atoh1. Results will come from lab experiments (cells and cochlear tissue) that show whether these approaches can reopen gene programs needed for hair cell formation.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with sensorineural hearing loss caused by damaged or missing inner-ear hair cells, especially adults seeking regenerative options, would be the most relevant candidates.
Not a fit: Patients whose hearing loss is caused mainly by nerve degeneration beyond the hair cells or by central brain disorders are unlikely to benefit from hair-cell regeneration approaches.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to treatments that restore hearing by regrowing the inner-ear hair cells lost in sensorineural hearing loss.
How similar studies have performed: Prior animal work shows newborn cochleas can regenerate hair cells and that Wnt signaling and some epigenetic drugs can help, but robust restoration of adult hearing remains limited and unproven.
Where this research is happening
Boston, United States
- Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary — Boston, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Edge, Albert — Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary
- Study coordinator: Edge, Albert
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.