RNID is working towards restoring hearing

The leading cause of hearing loss is damage to the delicate sensory hair cells within the inner ear.

Damaged or dead sensory hair cells are not replaced by the inner ear, which is why deafness caused by hair-cell loss is currently irreversible. However, RNID-funded scientists are exploring ways to replace or restore these cells to cure hearing loss.

Dr Marcelo Rivolta at Sheffield University, is exploring the possibility of using stem cells to replace the damaged cells within our ears.

In previous RNID funded research, Dr Rivolta discovered how to grow ‘auditory stem cells’ in the lab and how to coerce these cells into cell types found in the inner ear. He is now focusing on finding out whether these auditory stem cells could be used to restore hearing.

Initial results are very promising with results showing that the cells transplanted into the ear developed into the correct type of cell. In this case, the team had ‘told’ the stem cell to turn into a hearing nerve cell. After several weeks, the cells were still in good condition and had started to grow towards the right location, indicating that this early research is a step in the right direction towards achieving the ultimate goal – reversing hearing loss.

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