Noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) is a significant public health problem, affecting nearly 40 million Americans. We have made the exciting discovery that NIHL may be linked to the unfolded protein response (UPR), a critical early response mechanism to cellular stress that has downstream effectors that can promote both cell survival and apoptosis.
By directly observing calcium and other markers within the cochlea in real time using live imaging of genetically encoded fluorescent proteins, we can gain insight into how these dynamic changes drive cellular events.
Chan and Rouse, 2016
By studying how genetic models of hearing loss affect pathways in the cochlea such as the Unfolded Protein Response, we can learn how modulating these pathways can help reverse or prevent hearing loss that happens in response to loud noise or drugs.
Rouse et al., 2020
By understanding how disparities in knowledge of hearing-loss genetics impacts genetic testing and interventions, we can address structural racism and pursue health equity in hearing health care.
Florentine et al., 2021; Rouse et al., 2021