Israt Jahan, M.B.B.S., PH.D.

Meet the Researcher

Israt Jahan M.B.B.S, Ph.D. received her Ph.D. in medical sciences from Gifu University in Japan. Jahan began postdoctoral training in inner ear neurosensory development at Creighton University in Nebraska before moving to the University of Iowa to continue her work.

The Research

University of Iowa
Misexpression of Neurog1 combined with delayed deletion of Atoh1 provides a novel model

Contemporary research is focusing on the regeneration of hair cells in hearing loss using Atoh1. Reconstitution of the organ of Corti requires proper organization of the two types of hair cells, inner and outer hair cells, as well as supporting cells. Recent data showed that level of Atoh1 determines the degree of survival of different types of hair cells. Jahan’s previous work demonstrated the survival of some organ of Corti-like cells without Atoh1 if replaced by a closely related transcription factor, Neurog1. It is now Jahan’s intent to investigate the effect of Atoh1 substitution with Neurog1 combined with a delayed loss of Atoh1 expression in viable animals. This combined mutant offers for the first time a critical test of presumed causalities of molecular mechanism that may regulate the patterning of the organ of Corti, including hair cell and supporting cell differentiation.

Research area: Hair Cell Regeneration

Long-term goal of research: To define the correct dose and duration of Atoh1 expression for type-specific hair cell development which will provide novel insights into hair cell regeneration.