Hearing Restoration Project members Andy Groves, Ph.D., and Litao Tao, Ph.D., and team recently showed it is possible to design gene therapies for the ear that are carefully targeted at supporting cells, an essential first step in applying gene therapy to treat hearing loss in humans.

The latest paper by Emerging Research Grants (ERG) scientist Timothy Balmer, Ph.D., shows that unipolar brush cells, a type of neuron, may help compensate for age-related balance decline in older mice, maintaining stability.

Hearing Restoration Project member Ksenia Gnedeva, Ph.D., and team identified key gene regulators that enable some deafened animals—including fish and lizards—to naturally regenerate their hearing.