A. Catalina Vélez-Ortega, Ph.D.

Meet the Researcher

Vélez-Ortega received a master’s in biology from the University of Antioquia, Colombia, and a doctorate in physiology from the University of Kentucky, where she completed postdoctoral training and is now an assistant professor in the department of physiology. Vélez-Ortega’s 2018 Emerging Research Grant was generously funded by Cochlear Americas.

TRPA1 is an ion channel known for its role as an “irritant sensor” in pain-sensing neurons (nerve cells). Noise exposure leads to the production of some cellular “irritants” that activate TRPA1 channels in the inner ear. The role of TRPA1 channels has been a puzzling project, with most experiments leaving more questions to pursue. My current project seeks to uncover how TRPA1 activation modifies cochlear mechanics and hearing sensitivity, in order to find new therapeutic targets to prevent hearing loss or tinnitus.

My father, our town’s surgeon, fueled my desire to learn. When I asked him how the human heart works, he called the butcher, got a pig’s heart, and we dissected it together. I was about 5 when I learned how the heart’s chambers are connected and how valves work. He also set up an astronomy class at home with a flashlight, globe, and ball when I asked, “Why does the moon change shape?” My father’s excitement kept my curiosity from fading as I grew older. That eager-to-learn personality now drives my career in science and teaching.

My training in biomedical engineering guided my interest into hearing science. The field of inner ear research mixes physics and mechanics with molecular biology and genetics in a way I find extremely attractive. Analytics also intrigues me. People who work with me know how complex my calendar and spreadsheets can get. I absolutely love logging all kinds of data and looking for correlations. I also like to plan ahead—passport renewal 10 years from now? Already in my calendar!

I take dance lessons and participate in flash mobs and other dance performances. But I used to be extremely shy. As a child I simply could not look anyone in the eye when talking to them. I was also terrified of being onstage. It was only after college that I decided to finally correct the problem. Interestingly, taking sign language lessons was very helpful. Sign language forced me to stare at people to be able to communicate. It was terrifying at first, but it started to feel very natural after just a few months.

A. Catalina Vélez-Ortega, Ph.D.’s grant was generously funded by Cochlear Americas. We thank the cochlear implant manufacturer for supporting innovative research investigating noise-induced hearing loss and are grateful for its support of our work.

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The Research

University of Kentucky
TRPA 1 activation in the cochlea as an intrinsic mechanism of protection against noise-induced hearing loss

TRPA1 is an ion channel mostly known for its role as an “irritant sensor” in pain-sensing neurons. Functional TRPA1 channels are also expressed in the inner ear. However, given that genetically modified mice lacking TRPA1 channels have typical hearing and balance, the role of these channels in the inner ear remains unknown. Noise exposure leads to the production of some of the cellular “irritants” that activate TRPA1 channels. Therefore, we hypothesized that TRPA1 channels are able to sense noise-induced damage in the cochlea. When we exposed adult mice to mild noise levels, we observed a temporary increase in hearing thresholds that lasted several days (making it harder to hear soft sounds). Mice lacking TRPA1 channels, however, recovered significantly faster than mice with typical TRPA1 expression. This project will explore whether, after noise exposure, TRPA1 activation contributes to the temporary shift in hearing thresholds to allow the cochlea enough time to repair or recover from the noise-induced tissue damage. This project will help us better understand the protective effects of TRPA1 activation after noise exposure, and the specific cell types within the inner ear that are involved in this process.

Long-term goal: To explore the mechanisms by which TRPA1 activation modifies cochlear mechanics and hearing sensitivity, in order to uncover new therapeutic targets to prevent hearing loss or tinnitus.