Hearing science on display at annual meeting

photo of scientists at their poster

Basic scientists from the Department of Otolaryngology at Washington University assembled in Anaheim, Calif., for the annual Midwinter Meeting of the Association for Research in Otolaryngology (ARO), Feb. 3-7. The meeting is the largest gathering of hearing and balance scientists in the world. Efforts to advance our understanding of hearing and the disorders that affect […]

Yakusheva lab moves to the new Neuroscience Research Building

Assistant Professor Tatyana Yakusheva, PhD, and her team finally settled in their new research lab and work area in the new Jeffrey T. Fort Neuroscience Research Building (NRB), one of the world’s largest neuroscience research buildings. This 11-story building houses hundreds of scientists across the neuroscience research spectrum. The Yakusheva Lab was the first to […]

Single approach shows promise for hearing loss and neurological disorders

A team of Washington University scientists is working on a “one-size-fits-all” approach to help prevent hearing loss and a variety of neurological and neurodegenerative disorders. Many sensory and neurological disorders are caused by the over-activation of neurons by the neurotransmitter glutamate. Compounds that can block the various classes of glutamate receptors are well known to […]

Disentangling the vestibular schwannoma tumor microenvironment

In a first-of-its-kind study, two Washington University residents – Tom Barrett, MD (Otolaryngology), and Bhuvic Patel, MD (Neurosurgery) – employed two novel single cell genomic techniques to reveal an injury-like process related to the growth of vestibular schwannomas (VS).  The study, accepted for publication in the journal Nature Communications, is the first to examine the […]

Kim brings groundbreaking imaging techniques to WashU ENT

photo of Kim and family

Jinkyung Kim, PhD, has joined the Department of Otolaryngology at Washington University School of Medicine. A specialist in biological imaging, Kim has developed novel techniques that allow real time observation of cellular activity in the living mammalian cochlea. Kim received her doctoral degree at the School of Interdisciplinary Bioscience and Bioengineering, POSTECH, Pohang, Republic of […]

WashU leads effort to standardize the Common Sounds Audiogram

illustration of common sounds audiogram

A team of WashU researchers is working to standardize a common hearing test to improve parents’ understanding of their child’s hearing loss and provide better counseling on hearing interventions. Leading the effort are Otolaryngology faculty Rosalie Uchanski, PhD, and Lisa Davidson, PhD, and former audiology student Cory Hillis. When an infant is diagnosed with hearing […]

Hearing researchers present latest findings at ARO MidWinter Meeting

Photo of Alexander Larson at ARO poster presentation

The Association for Research in Otolaryngology (ARO) held its 46th Annual MidWinter Meeting Feb. 11-15 in Orlando, FL. The meeting is the largest assembly of hearing and balance researchers in the world and features presentations of basic, applied and clinical science. Hearing scientists from Washington University in St. Louis have for decades maintained a strong […]

Clinical trial seeks to expand criteria for cochlear implants in children

photo of child undergoing word recognition test

Director of Washington University’s Cochlear Implant Program Jill Firszt, PhD, is no stranger to studying single-sided deafness and asymmetric hearing loss in adults. Her previous work demonstrated the benefits of cochlear implants in these patients and helped provide critical data needed to promote the adoption of expanded implant criteria by the FDA. Firszt has now […]

Proteomics collaboration enhances hearing science

Rutherford at microscope

A new collaboration between Washington University hearing scientists and colleagues at Northwestern University hopes to shed new light on both the mechanisms of hearing loss and the optimization of cochlear implant outcomes. The collaboration is an integral part of an NIH grant awarded to WashU Associate Professor of Otolaryngology Mark Rutherford, PhD, and Jeffrey Savas, […]

WashU researchers one step closer to understanding cisplatin-induced hearing loss

photo of Sheets with zebrafish

The laboratory of Lavinia Sheets, PhD, at Washington University School of Medicine may have discovered the cause of hearing loss due to cisplatin, a common chemotherapy agent used to treat many cancer patients. Sheets serves as assistant professor of otolaryngology at WashU. The work was largely conducted by otolaryngology resident David Lee, MD, who presented […]