Understanding Brain Adaptation to Inner Ear Balance Changes and Developing a Vestibular Implant
The Physiology of Vestibular Compensation
This project aims to understand how the brain adjusts to inner ear balance problems and to create a new implant to help people with dizziness and unsteady vision.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Johns Hopkins University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Baltimore, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11116990 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This research explores how your brain learns to cope when your inner ear, which controls balance, isn't working correctly. We are also working on a new type of implant, like a bionic device, that could help restore balance and clear vision for those who have lost their inner ear function. The goal is to improve daily life for adults who experience severe dizziness, unsteadiness, and blurry vision. We are building on previous work that defined how the brain recovers and how a prototype implant affects balance reflexes.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: This research is relevant to adults aged 21 and older who experience chronic dizziness, unsteadiness, and unsteady vision due to a loss of inner ear balance function.
Not a fit: Patients whose balance issues are not related to inner ear dysfunction or who have mild, temporary symptoms may not directly benefit from this specific research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to a vestibular implant that significantly improves balance and vision for individuals with severe inner ear damage, enhancing their quality of life.
How similar studies have performed: Previous work has shown progress in understanding how the brain adapts to vestibular changes and how a prototype vestibular prosthesis affects balance reflexes.
Where this research is happening
Baltimore, United States
- Johns Hopkins University — Baltimore, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Cullen, Kathleen E — Johns Hopkins University
- Study coordinator: Cullen, Kathleen E
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.