This suggests that birds maintain a precise program for hair cell regeneration that preserves frequency-specific nerve connections, which is an important aspect of proper functional recovery.
Cochlear Organoids Reveal How Supporting Cells Differentiate Into Hair Cells
These details gleaned from this regenerative process in the mouse organoid provides insights into how mammalian supporting cells could be reprogrammed into hair cells.
Genetic Reprogramming Converts Nonsensory Cells into Sensory Cells in the Mature Cochlea
We have artificially expressed three key hair cell fate promoting proteins in nonsensory cells of adult mice, and found that a significant number of these cells will convert into cells resembling hair cells. This offers a potential strategy for hair cell regeneration.
Combination of Four Genes May Help Regrow New Auditory Hair Cells in Mammals
Two months after treatment, we saw that some GAPS-treated guinea pigs had a statistically significant increase in new hair cell-like cells compared with controls. Future steps will be to investigate the origin as well as the function of these hair cell-like cells.
An Essential Signaling Cascade for Hair Cell Regeneration in Birds
This work provides a new starting point to investigate the natural triggers of hair cell regeneration in birds. We also identified novel genes that drive hair cell regeneration in the chicken inner ear. These novel genes will be key for investigating their potential role in triggering a change in supporting cells in mammals, in the damaged mouse or human cochlea.
Meet the 2024 Emerging Research Grants Scientists
As of this year, our general hearing health grants have been renamed Elizabeth M. Keithley, Ph.D. Early Stage Investigator Awards in recognition of Keithley’s impact on the field and long service to HHF, and the awards’ focus on supporting the next generation.
Driven by Data and Collaboration
The collaborative spirit of our Hearing Restoration Project consortium is especially evident as we work together to complete a publication describing our analysis of hair cell gene expression.
HHF Is 65 This Year!
More funding and more time leads to more ambitious experimental plans, additional data collected, and a stronger footing for subsequent research and research funding.
Drug-Like Molecules Regenerate Hair Cell-Like Cells in Adult Mice
“Think about a brake when driving a car,” Chen explains. “If the brake is always engaged, you can’t drive. We found an siRNA that could remove the brake in this genetic pathway.”
Highlights From the Hearing Restoration Project
Here are highlights of recent accomplishments, including demonstrating that a cocktail of three factors can promote conversion of nonsensory cells into hair cells in the mouse model.