Symposium to Discuss Current Research during AAAS Annual Meeting in Washington, DC
(Rockville, MD—February 16, 2005) -- Research on ways to restore functional hair cells in mammals, including in vivo and in vitro genetic manipulations, application of mitogenic growth factors, and stem cell characterization and transplantation, will be presented in the Diplomat Room at the Omni Shoreham Hotel on Friday, February 18, 2005 at 8:30 am as part of the Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) annual meeting. Sponsored and organized by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA), the symposium will also address efforts to identify signaling pathways in the inner ear necessary for neuronal survival and regrowth after hair cell loss.
Hair cells, sensory receptors located in the inner ear, are critical for hearing function and are highly susceptible to acoustic trauma, pharmaceutical agents, and microenvironmental changes, such as those associated with aging. The majority of deafness and balance disorders are sensorineural; that is, they are rooted in the loss of either hair cells or the cochleovestibular nerves that connect them to the brain.
While it has been known for over 50 years that sensory hair cells can be regenerated in cold-blooded vertebrates, it was not until recently that it was demonstrated that warm-blooded vertebrates, such as mammals, are capable of this process. This discovery suggested that hair cell regeneration could be stimulated in humans to cure sensorineural hearing loss, which has long been believed to be irreversible.
Presenters will summarize the current state of scientific knowledge about hair cell regeneration and neural regrowth, and identify areas of promise and limitation for future approaches toward treating sensorineural hearing and balance disorders.
Specific presentations include "Hair cell regeneration in non-mammalian vertebrates," by Jennifer Stone, Ph.D., an assistant professor at the University of Washington Medical School and Virginia Merrill Bloedel Hearing Research Institute. Dr. Stone will review the knowledge base on the spontaneous occurrence of hair cell regeneration in non-mammalian species.
In "Controlling cell division during regeneration of the mammalian inner ear," Neil Segil, Ph.D, a senior scientist at the House Ear Institute, will address the effects of hair cell injury in mammals, how the cell cycle can be altered genetically to stimulate the initial stages of hair cell regeneration, and methods for stem cell isolation from the mature cochlea.
Steven Green, Ph.D., associate professor of biological sciences and otolaryngology at the University of Iowa, will discuss the challenges associated with promoting neural regeneration and connection to restored hair cells in his presentation, "Control of spiral ganglion neuronal survival and axon growth."
ASHA is the national professional, scientific, and credentialing association for more than 115,000 audiologists, speech-language pathologists, and speech, language, and hearing scientists. Audiologists specialize in preventing and assessing hearing disorders as well as providing audiologic treatment including hearing aids. Speech-language pathologists identify, assess, and treat speech and language problems including swallowing disorders. For more information on ASHA, visit www.asha.org
