Understanding how the inner ear works to hear and how to measure it without surgery
Official title: Modeling cochlear micromechanics and noninvasive measures of cochlear function
Funded at Georgia Institute of Technology · NIH-11414957 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A researcher is using 3-D computer models and noninvasive hearing measurements to better understand how the ear amplifies low sounds and what signs in the ear reflect ear health.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Georgia Institute of Technology NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Atlanta, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2017 |
| Project end | August 31, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $492,017 |
| NIH project number | 5R01DC016114-07 |
| Project ID | NIH-11414957 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Individuals with normal hearing or cochlear-based hearing concerns could participate indirectly through noninvasive measurements and potential future testing.
✕Less likely to help
People without access to noninvasive testing or those not undergoing ear-health assessments may derive no direct benefit.
What this research studies
This project builds 3-D computer models of the cochlea to simulate how outer hair cells boost hearing and how fluids inside the ear interact with this process. It also studies noninvasive tests like otoacoustic emissions and cochlear microphonics to connect what happens in the ear’s micromechanics to what is measurable outside the ear. The goal is to improve noninvasive ways to diagnose cochlear problems and to refine how we interpret current ear-health tests. By linking detailed models with real measurements, the research aims to enhance early detection and monitoring of cochlear health in people with hearing difficulties.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could improve noninvasive diagnosis and monitoring of cochlear health and lead to better screening for hearing loss.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies have shown that combining noninvasive ear measurements with modeling can illuminate cochlear function, suggesting potential for further breakthroughs.
Where this research is happening
-
Georgia Institute of Technology
Atlanta, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Meaud, Julien — Georgia Institute of Technology
- Study coordinator: Meaud, Julien
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.