Bioinformatics
The HRP-funded gEAR (gene Expression Analysis Resource) portal, overseen by HRP scientist Ronna Hertzano, M.D., Ph.D., enables multi-omic data sharing and analysis in the ear field—and recently, has been adapted for neuroscientists as well. This gEAR-created figure shows the development of inner ear sensory cells in the zebrafish embryo five days after fertilization. Its resemblance to North America has made it easier to explain the hair cell regeneration goal of moving south from “Florida” (4) to “Cuba” (2).
Bioinformatics is an emerging discipline that uses information management and analysis tools to uncover relationships between large, disparate sets of data—like what has been generated by the Hearing Restoration Project (HRP). The HRP’s use of bioinformatics not only has uncovered genes that may play roles in hair cell regeneration but also provides an easier way to visualize and understand data.
These stories provide more details:
Sequencing and the HRP, by Stefan Heller, Ph.D., Fall 2013
An Evolving Plan, by Shari Eberts, Spring 2014
Data Mining Toward a Cure, Summer 2014
Transitioning to Phase II, by Peter G. Barr-Gillespie, Ph.D., Fall 2014
Distilling the Data, by Michael Lovett, Ph.D., Summer 2015
Where We Are, and Where We Are Going, by Peter G. Barr-Gillespie, Ph.D., Winter 2016
Hearing Restoration Project Plans Announced for 2016–17, by Peter G. Barr-Gillespie, Ph.D., Summer 2016
The HRP Shifts Gears for Greater Impact, by Peter G. Barr-Gillespie, Ph.D., Winter 2017
Hearing Restoration Project Plans Announced for 2017–18, by Peter G. Barr-Gillespie, Ph.D., Summer 2017
The Hearing Restoration Project Stays the Course, by Peter G. Barr-Gillespie, Ph.D., Winter 2018
Hearing Restoration Project Plans Announced for 2018–19, by Peter G. Barr-Gillespie, Ph.D., Summer 2018
Game Changer, by Ronna Hertzano, M.D., Ph.D., Spring 2018
On a Data-Driven Mission, by Peter G. Barr-Gillespie, Ph.D., Winter 2019
Hearing Restoration Project Plans Announced for 2019–20, by Peter G. Barr-Gillespie, Ph.D., Summer 2019
Data Made Visual, by Christopher Geissler, Ph.D., Spring 2020
Filling in the Gaps, by Peter G. Barr-Gillespie, Ph.D., Spring 2020
Hearing Health Foundation (HHF)’s Hearing Restoration Project (HRP) is the first international research consortium investigating the regeneration of sensory cells in the ear (hair cells) as a cure for hearing loss and tinnitus.
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