Research
Our ongoing research strives to generate from stem cells the major inner ear cell types and we test whether these cells survive, mature, and perform after transplantation into inner ears and into ex vivo preparations of damaged cochleae. We recently begun to exploit experimental protocols developed with murine stem cell types as blueprints to develop techniques that allow us to guide human stem cells toward differentiation into human sensory hair cells. In the long-term, we envision collaborating with clinicians to develop clinical applications to treatment of patients with degenerative inner ear disorders.
A second principal line of research focuses on molecular-biological and functional characterization of TRP ion channels. We focus on TRP channels that are expressed by inner ear sensory hair cells and our goal is to elucidate the role of these ion channels in hair cell function.
A third emerging line of research focuses on functional characterization of genes and proteins that are involved in hair cell mechanotransduction or stereociliary function. The long-term goal of this research is to unravel the structure and function of the mechanoelectrical transduction machinery, a multi-protein complex located at the tips of stereocilia. This research involves molecular, biochemical, and biophysical approaches.
