Understanding the genetic factors and audiological measures related to tinnitus
Official title: Tinnitus: Audiological measures and genetic susceptibility
Funded at University of Iowa · NIH-10359459 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at young adults with tinnitus, a condition where you hear sounds that aren't actually there, to see if certain genes or hearing traits might make some people more likely to develop it.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Iowa NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Iowa City, United States) |
| Project start | March 1, 2021 |
| Project end | August 31, 2025 |
| Funding year | 2021 |
| Award (this year) | $135,331 |
| NIH project number | 7R21DC016704-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-10359459 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are young adults, particularly college students, who may be at risk for tinnitus.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are older or have existing severe hearing loss may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates tinnitus, a condition where individuals perceive sound without an external source. The team aims to identify genetic and audiological profiles in young adults to understand who may be predisposed to developing tinnitus. By focusing on college-aged participants, the study seeks to eliminate age-related factors that could complicate results. The research will utilize various audiological measures and genetic analyses to uncover potential links between genetics and tinnitus.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to early identification and intervention strategies for individuals at risk of developing tinnitus.
How similar studies have gone: While there is ongoing research into tinnitus, this specific approach focusing on genetic predisposition in young adults is relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Iowa
Iowa City, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Bhatt, Ishan Sunilkumar — University of Iowa
- Study coordinator: Bhatt, Ishan Sunilkumar
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Understanding how stress and arousal relate to tinnitus using eye and skin signals
Researchers will test whether easy-to-measure signals like pupil size and skin conductance can reflect how distressing tinnitus feels in adults, especially Veterans.
-
Understanding why age-related hearing loss and tinnitus happen in diverse groups
A study aims to find genetic reasons behind age-related hearing loss and tinnitus in African ancestry and Latino populations.
-
Subjective and Somatic Tinnitus: Finding Objective Brain Signals with a Special fNIRS Scan
This grant tests a brain-imaging approach to identify objective brain signals in people with tinnitus, including those whose phantom sounds change with jaw or head movements.
-
Hormones, gut bacteria, and blood markers linked to tinnitus in women
This study looks at how hormones, gut microbes, and metabolic signals relate to the start and possible remission of tinnitus in women.
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Understanding age-related hearing loss and tinnitus in diverse communities
This project looks for genetic changes linked to age-related hearing loss and ringing in the ears using large whole-genome datasets, focusing especially on people of African and Latino backgrounds.
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Diagnosing and treating tinnitus linked to head, neck, or jaw problems
This project develops a screening test and a physical-therapy treatment for people—especially Veterans—whose tinnitus changes with head, neck, jaw, or eye movements.
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.