Promising Research Proposals Under Consideration
DRF is pleased to announce that we received 58 applications for our prestigious 2006-2007 annual research grants in the area of hearing loss, prevention and treatment. Every year, DRF provides grants in the amount of $20,000 each to bright, promising researchers in the field of hearing and balance science. Based on available funding, DRF anticipates being able to fund 20 researchers this year. While the topics vary greatly, several of the current research applications are related to one of the most exciting areas of research today: hair cell regeneration.
There is now proof that new inner ear cells can form in mammals under laboratory conditions. The next step is to identify the factors that initiate, foster, promote and control restoration of mammalian inner ear cells through regeneration, stem cells and genetic manipulation. At this time, there are three broadly formulated concepts in hair cell regeneration:
• cells will regrow after injury if growth factors (molecules that stimulate regeneration) are put into the ear;
• cells will regrow if molecules that prevent spontaneous regeneration are neutralized; and
• new cells can be transplanted into the inner ear (stem cells, perhaps).
No one research project will be able to answer these questions. DRF’s goal is to fund research that may move us closer to the bigger answers. DRF will announce the 2006-2007 research grants in the next issue of Hearing Health.
