Using living electrodes to improve hearing rehabilitation.
Official title: Living electrodes for auditory rehabilitation.
Funded at Wm S. Middleton Memorial Veterans Hosp · NIH-11109577 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is exploring a new way to help people with severe hearing loss by using special living materials that can improve how sound is processed in the brain, which could lead to better hearing than what current cochlear implants offer.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Wm S. Middleton Memorial Veterans Hosp NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Madison, United States) |
| Project start | April 1, 2021 |
| Project end | March 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| NIH project number | 5IK2BX004910-06 |
| Project ID | NIH-11109577 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals with severe hearing loss who cannot benefit from conventional hearing aids or cochlear implants.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with mild to moderate hearing loss or those who have already had successful cochlear implant surgeries may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on developing innovative living electrodes to enhance auditory rehabilitation for individuals with severe hearing loss. By utilizing transplantable living scaffolds and biohybrid neural interfaces, the project aims to create a system where transplanted spiral ganglion neurons can effectively stimulate auditory pathways. The approach involves harvesting neurons from neonatal rats and testing their ability to interact with both cochlear and brainstem neurons, potentially leading to improved sound perception and clarity. Patients may benefit from a more effective treatment option compared to traditional cochlear implants.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could provide a more effective solution for individuals with severe hearing loss, improving their ability to perceive sound and understand speech.
How similar studies have gone: While the concept of biohybrid neural interfaces is innovative, similar approaches in other areas of neural rehabilitation have shown promise, suggesting potential for success in this novel application.
Where this research is happening
-
Wm S. Middleton Memorial Veterans Hosp
Madison, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Brant, Jason — Wm S. Middleton Memorial Veterans Hosp
- Study coordinator: Brant, Jason
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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.