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              Research
              Intramural Research
  
      Section on Sensory Cell Development and Function


**Katie Kindt, Ph.D., Chief**

Research Statement

Sensory hair cells are specialized mechanoreceptors that are required to reliably transmit auditory and vestibular information to the brain. In humans, hair cell death is responsible for permanent hearing loss and vestibular dysfunction, as our hair cells do not regenerate. In order to develop effective clinical treatments to restore hearing and balance in humans, we must learn how to replace or regenerate hair cells and integrate them into the downstream circuitry. Prior to hair cell regeneration, it is critical to first understand how hair cells function and how they are formed *in vivo*. **Therefore, the mission of the Section on Sensory Cell Development and Function is to investigate the function and *in vivo* assembly of the hair cell system.**

In mammals, the auditory and vestibular organs are encased in the dense petrous bone, making it impossible to study how these sensory organs form or function in their native environment. Therefore, our research utilizes zebrafish, which contain sensory hair cells within their lateral lines that can easily be studied *in vivo*. Furthermore, in zebrafish, hair cells regenerate, allowing us to gather insight into how to stimulate regeneration in a native sensory system. Zebrafish is a relevant model to examine hair cell systems, as numerous studies have shown that the same core genes are required for hearing and balance in humans, mice, and zebrafish. Our work uses this relevant, genetically tractable model by combining powerful functional and time-lapse imaging, electrophysiology, and behavioral analyses to comprehensively dissect the molecular and functional requirements underlying the assembly and function of hair cell systems *in vivo*.

The questions we currently ask include:

How do collections of sensory cells, synapses, and neurons coordinate to encode sensory information?
	How does sensory activity impact circuit assembly, function, and health?
	What molecules are required to set up sensory function and synapse specificity?Lab staff from Katie Kindt’s lab gathered at a restaurant.
Lab Personnel
    
      Katie Kindt, Ph.D. Senior Investigator +1 301 443 2626 (Send e-mail)
          Elizabeth Cebul, Ph.D. Postdoctoral IRTA Fellow +1 301 443 2626 (Send e-mail)
          Sandeep David Postbaccalaureate IRTA Fellow +1 301 443 2626 (Send e-mail)
          Saman Hussain, Ph.D. Biologist +1 301 402 6284 (Send e-mail)
          Sophie Lear Postbaccalaureate IRTA Fellow +1 301 443 2626 (Send e-mail)
          Zhengchang Lei, Ph.D. Staff Scientist +1 301 443 2626 (Send e-mail)
          Katherine Pinter Biologist +1 301 496 9022 (Send e-mail)
          Joseph Sanchez, M.S. Aquatics Specialist +1 301 451 1198 (Send e-mail)
Interested in discussing potential jobs or research opportunities in this group? Contact the research group leader listed at the top of the Lab Personnel section.
Last Updated Date:
      August 17, 2023
              NIDCD Research in the News
    
      NIH researchers show protein in inner ear is key to how cells that help with hearing and balance are positioned
          NIDCD scientist Katie Kindt receives Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers (PECASE) at White House ceremony COVID-19
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