Understanding how signals from the inner ear affect balance and movement.
Official title: How Peripheral Vestibular Signals Create Vestibular Compound Action Potentials
Funded at Rice University · NIH-11044909 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how tiny hair cells in your inner ear help your body sense movement and stay balanced, and it’s for anyone interested in understanding how our balance works, especially as we get older.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Rice University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Houston, United States) |
| Project start | December 13, 2024 |
| Project end | November 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $195,625 |
| NIH project number | 1R21DC022412-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11044909 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research include individuals experiencing balance issues, particularly older adults who may have age-related vestibular changes.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with stable vestibular function and no history of balance disorders may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates how hair cells in the inner ear convert head movements into electrical signals that help coordinate balance and movement. By examining the interaction between different types of hair cells and their connections to nerve cells, the study aims to understand how these signals are processed in the brain. The researchers will use both in-vitro and in-vivo methods to measure the electrical activity generated by these cells in response to various stimuli, such as sound and vibration. This work could provide insights into the mechanisms of balance and motion perception, particularly in relation to age-related changes.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved treatments for balance disorders and better understanding of age-related vestibular dysfunction.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promising results in understanding vestibular function, but this specific approach to studying the interaction of hair cells and nerve signals is relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
-
Rice University
Houston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Govindaraju, Aravind Chenrayan — Rice University
- Study coordinator: Govindaraju, Aravind Chenrayan
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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.