There is now a need for experimental systems to quickly test the candidates identified in Phase I experiments before moving into animal models and ultimately clinical trials. These researchers will develop a supporting cell culture system that can be used to quickly screen for factors that promote supporting cell growth or that promote supporting cells to generate hair cells. They will then test if this system can be used to grow cells at low density (allowing fewer cells to be used), to grow cells from older animals (necessary for a real drug), and to grow cells from the adult mouse utricle (which already shows limited regeneration). This project may give us the assay system needed to identify small molecule or gene therapeutics.