Meet the 2025 Emerging Research Grants Scientists

Each October Hearing Health Foundation announces our newly funded Emerging Research Grants scientists. We are thankful to our scientific reviewers and Council of Scientific Trustees for their role determining the awardees. 

Our ERG program continues to be the leading seed funding opportunity for hearing and balance researchers. Of note, the Elizabeth M. Keithley, Ph.D. Early Stage Investigator Awards honor the impact of our former board chair on the field, including her service to HHF with the awards’ focus on supporting the next generation. 

Supporting hearing and balance research is crucial, as it receives only a small fraction of federal funding compared with other chronic conditions, and despite the widespread prevalence of hearing conditions. We are deeply grateful for the continued dedication of our generous donors who make these grants possible. 

Thank you and congratulations to the 2025 grantees.

FIRST YEAR

Timothy Balmer, Ph.D.
Arizona State University
The role of NMDA receptors in vestibular circuit function and balance
Generously funded by the Salice Family Foundation

Margaret Cychosz, Ph.D.
University of California, Los Angeles
Leveraging automatic speech recognition algorithms to understand how the home listening environment impacts spoken language development among infants with cochlear implants
Recipient of an Elizabeth M. Keithley, Ph.D. Early Stage Investigator Award

Manoj Kumar, Ph.D.
University of Pittsburgh
KCNQ2/3 potassium channel activator mitigates noise-trauma–induced hypersensitivity to sounds in mice
Generously funded by Hyperacusis Research

Ben-Zheng Li, Ph.D.
University of Colorado
Alterations in the sound localization pathway resulting in hearing deficits: an optogenetic approach
Generously funded by Royal Arch Research Assistance

Anahita Mehta, Ph.D.
University of Michigan
Effects of age on interactions of acoustic features with timing judgments in auditory sequences
Generously funded by Royal Arch Research Assistance

Bruna Mussoi, Au.D., Ph.D.
University of Tennessee
Auditory neuroplasticity following experience with cochlear implants
Generously funded by Mike Miles

Osama Tarabichi, M.D., MPH
University of Iowa
The role of inner ear lymphatics in the foreign body response to cochlear implantation
Recipient of an Elizabeth M. Keithley, Ph.D. Early Stage Investigator Award

First-year recipients (top row, left to right) Timothy Balmer, Ph.D., Margaret Cychosz, Ph.D., Manoj Kumar, Ph.D., Ben-Zheng Li, Ph.D., (bottom row, left to right) Anahita Mehta, Ph.D., Bruna Mussoi, Au.D., Ph.D., Osama Tarabichi, M.D., MPH

SECOND YEAR

Franziska Auer, Ph.D.
New York University
Defining myelin’s role in developing vestibular circuits
Recipient of an Elizabeth M. Keithley, Ph.D. Early Stage Investigator Award

Divya Chari, M.D.
Mass Eye and Ear
Auditory and vestibular phenotype characterization of a Ménière’s disease model in humans and mice with X-linked hypophosphatemia
Generously funded by Karen I. Coley

Amanda Griffin, Ph.D., Au.D.
Boston Children’s Hospital
Toward better assessment of pediatric unilateral hearing loss
Generously funded by Royal Arch Research Assistance

Nicole Tin-Lok Jiam, M.D.
University of California, San Francisco
Age-specific cochlear implant programming for optimal hearing performance
Recipient of an Elizabeth M. Keithley, Ph.D. Early Stage Investigator Award, supported in part by Susan and Steve Kaufman

HiJee Kang, Ph.D.
Johns Hopkins University
Age-related changes on neural mechanisms in the auditory cortex for learning complex sounds
Generously funded by Royal Arch Research Assistance

Melissa McGovern, Ph.D.
University of Pittsburgh
Hair cell regeneration in the mature cochlea: investigating new models to reprogram cochlear epithelial cells into hair cells
Recipient of the Neil Segil Memorial Award in Hair Cell Regeneration

Wei Sun, Ph.D.
University at Buffalo
Foxg1 gene mutation caused hyperacusis—a novel model to study hyperacusis
Generously funded by Hyperacusis Research

For details about the projects renewed for a second year, please click here. The next cycle for grant applications opens on Monday, October 28. For more, see hhf.org/erg. Hearing Health Foundation sincerely thanks our community for their support.

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