Patricia A. White, Ph.D.

The Research

House Ear Institute

“Forkhead box o” transcription factors and mammalian cochlear regeneration

To restore hearing to the deaf will require an understanding of the genes that regulate proliferation of adult supporting cells. While tumor suppressors, such as Cdkn1b, have well described functions in the cochlea, upstream regulators of such genes are not understood. White’s research will characterize the expression and function of Foxo3 (Forkhead box O3), a candidate regulator of Cdkn1b, in supporting cells.