2020 GRANT RECIPIENTS These researchers received grant funding from the American Hearing Research Foundation in 2020. Read about their studies. Share and Enjoy ! 0 SHARES 0 0 Rachael Baiduc, Melinda Anderson Sex Differences in the Association between Hearing Loss and Cardiovascular Disease Risk Burden Rachael R. Baiduc, PhD, MPH Melinda Anderson, PhD, CCC-A Rachael Baiduc, PhD, MPH University of Colorado Boulder Melinda Anderson, PhD, CCC-A University of Colorado School of Medicine Grant: $45,000 Hearing loss and cardiovascular disease (CVD) are two common chronic conditions among older adults. The proposed project will examine relationships between hearing and CVD risk factors (for example, diabetes and hypertension) in isolation and in combination. Read More Share and Enjoy ! 0 SHARES 0 0 Monita Chatterjee Age-Related Changes in the Perception of Emotional Speech with Cochlear Implants Monita Chatterjee, PhD Monita Chatterjee, PhD (center) and team Monita Chatterjee, PhD Boys Town National Research Hospital Grant: $40,000 This project will explore the extent to which individuals with cochlear implants lose ability to perceive emotion in speech as they age. The findings could benefit the development of improved rehabilitation tools, clinical protocols, devices, and processing strategies to improve social communication and quality of life in cochlear implant patients. Read More Share and Enjoy ! 0 SHARES 0 0 Allison B. Coffin AMPA receptor-mediated glutamate excitotoxicity and noise-induced synaptic damage Allison B. Coffin, PhD Coffin Lab, Fall 2019 Allison B. Coffin, PhD Washington State University Grant: $40,000 This research asks how noise damages the connection between the cells in our ears and our brains. We hypothesize that loud noise causes the nerve cells in our ears to get overly excited – and that this excess activity ultimately damages these cells and reduces the ability for these nerve cells to transmit information about the sounds around us. Read More Share and Enjoy ! 0 SHARES 0 0 Michael Ghiam Utility of Perilymph microRNA Sampling for Identification of Active Gene Expression Pathways in Sensorineural Hearing Loss Michael Ghiam, MD Michael Ghiam, MD University of Miami Miller School of Medicine Grant: $1,000 This study aims to identify genes that contribute to development of sensorineural hearing loss. MicroRNA are short RNAs that regulate gene expression by suppression of protein synthesis or by increased messenger RNA degradation. We will look at microRNA in human perilymph samples that are collected at the time of inner ear surgery to isolate miRNA and to sequence their nucleotides in order to help identify gene pathways that drive sensorineural hearing loss. Read More Share and Enjoy ! 0 SHARES 0 0 Stefania Goncalves Laminin-coated Cochlear Implant Electrodes can Promote Schwan Cell Dedifferentitation, Migration and Guide Neural Axon Growth In Vitro Stefania Goncalves, MD Stefania Goncalves and Mentors Stefania Goncalves, MD University of Miami Miller School of Medicine Grant: $1,000 Schwann cells wrap around axons of neurons and produce a myelin sheath, needed to conduct electrical impulses along nerve fibers. After nerve damage, these cells change to allow regeneration of peripheral nerves. This study will explore ways to improve CI outcome by modifying the electrode design to attract Schwann cells from the spiral ganglion towards the electrode and increase the efficacy of the transmission of the electrical signal to the cochlear nerve. Read More Share and Enjoy ! 0 SHARES 0 0 Cody Jeu A cochlear implant simulation study to determine the effects of transposing frequencies on binaural benefits Cody Jeu, MD Cody Jeu, MD University of Illinois at Chicago Grant: $1,000 Individuals with two cochlear implants (CIs) – one for each ear – often hear better than those with one CI, but still don’t get the full benefit of hearing with two ears. This study investigates whether relating the programming of bilateral cochlear implants to each other rather than programming each CI separately will improve hearing. Read More Share and Enjoy ! 0 SHARES 0 0 Benjamin Johnson Antimalarial Artesunate as a Novel Treatment to Mitigate Hearing Loss Associated with Usher Syndrome Type IIIA Benjamin Johnson, MD Benjamin Johnson, MD, with co-investigator Kumar Alagramam, PhD. Benjamin Johnson, MD University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center / Case Western Reserve University Grant: $20,000 Individuals who have the gene mutation for Usher syndrome IIIA experience progressive vision and hearing loss. This study tests whether the antimalarial drug, artemisinin, will result in preventing progressive hearing loss associated with a specific Usher genetic mutation in a mouse model. Read More Share and Enjoy ! 0 SHARES 0 0 Matthew T. Maksimoski Long term outcomes from gamma knife treatment for vestibulocochlear nerve schwannomas in a large, tertiary care, academic hospital Matthew T. Maksimoski, MD Matthew T. Maksimoski, MD Northwestern University Grant: $1,000 This study aims to assess the long-term auditory effects (up to ten years post-surgery) of gamma knife treatment for vestibulocochlear schwannomas to assist MDs and patients in their initial treatment decision making. Read More Share and Enjoy ! 0 SHARES 0 0 Dhasakumar Navaratnam Defining the molecular and cellular basis of Meniere’s disease using single cell RNA sequencing Dhasakumar Navaratnam, MD, PhD Dhasakumar Navaratnam, MD, PhD Yale University Grant: $25,000 AHRF Meniere’s Grant Recipient Single cell RNA sequencing is a way to analyze the gene expression in a single cell. This study seeks to identify the molecular and cellular events underlying Meniere’s disease (MD) using single cell RNA sequencing of cells from inner ear tissue from patients with the disease. Read More Share and Enjoy ! 0 SHARES 0 0 Habib G. Rizk Assessing the Efficacy of a Serotonin and Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitor for Improving Meniere’s Disease Outcomes Habib G. Rizk, MD Co-investigators Yaun Fang Liu, MD (left) and Shaun A. Nguyen, MD, FAPCR Habib G. Rizk, MD Medical University of South Carolina Grant: $24,318 This study is a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind, crossover, pilot trial of venlafaxine extended-release daily for the prophylactic treatment of Meniere’s disease. The study will measure the number and severity of dizziness episodes, functional outcomes, and self-perceived cognitive, psychological and quality of life outcomes. Read More Share and Enjoy ! 0 SHARES 0 0 Tal Teitz Repurposing an FDA Approved Drug Dabrafenib for Protection from Noise-induced Hearing Loss Tal Teitz, PhD Tal Teitz with team Tal Teitz, PhD Creighton University Grant: $45,000 Through extensive in vitro screening of over 4,000 compounds, Teitz’s lab identified an FDA approved drug used for other purposes, dabrafenib, that was effective in protecting an inner ear hair cell line from cisplatin. Further, the drug protected mouse cochlear hair cells from cisplatin induced death in culture, and oral delivery in mice protected significantly against cisplatin and noise induced hearing loss. This study will identify the optimum regimen of dabrafenib for noise protection in mice. The aim of the overall program is to repurpose the drug for oral delivery to humans to protect against noise-induced hearing loss. Read More Share and Enjoy ! 0 SHARES 0 0 Jing Zheng Investigating functions of a cilium protein in vestibular system Jing Zheng, PhD Jing Zheng, PhD Northwestern University Grant: $45,000 Kinocilia in vestibular hair cells are surface projections that are essential in detecting and translating extracellular movements to the hair cell to regulate the release of neurotransmitter. This study investigates the basic biology of the vestibular hair cell kinocilium. We will investigate the role of a cilium protein, CAMSAP3, in the structure and function of the vestibular kinocilia. The data from the proposed experiments will provide fundamental information about the development and function of cilia and further the understanding of the pathologies underlying vestibular disorders. Read More Share and Enjoy ! 0 SHARES 0 0 Rachael Baiduc & Melinda Anderson Monita Chatterjee Allison Coffin Michael Ghiam Stefania Goncalves Cody Jeu Benjamin Johnson Matthew T. Maksimoski Dhasakumar Navaratnam Habib G. Rizk Tal Teitz Jing Zheng Making new discoveries possible for more than 60 years AHRF funds novel research to better understand and overcome hearing and balance disorders of the inner ear Useful Links Media Center Meniere’s Disease Tinnitus stay connected American Hearing Research Foundation 275 N. York Street, Suite 201 Elmhurst, IL 60126 (630) 617-5079 info@american-hearing.org © 2021 American Hearing Research Foundation