Cell Regeneration Could be the Key to Reversing Hearing Loss

Most hearing loss is caused by damage to sensory hair cells within the inner ear. If we can regenerate these cells, we can potentially reverse deafness. Dr. James Hudspeth has made this goal his life’s work—Olympus microscopes have been a part of that work for 30 years.

The sensory hair cells within the inner ear do not naturally regenerate, and their disappearance underlies hearing decline and loss, and can lead to deafness. Learning the most we can about how these cells work, and whether they can be successfully regenerated, is the key to reversing hearing loss.

Dr. James Hudspeth has devoted his professional career to studying and understanding hearing at a molecular level. The majority of the work conducted by Hudspeth and his team at the Laboratory of Sensory Neuroscience at The Rockefeller University in New York City involves stimulating and observing sensory hair cells at high magnification, research that includes analyzing the more than 200 different genes that, when mutated, can cause hearing loss. Hudspeth’s team uses Olympus microscopes to further understand these mutations.

“We use Olympus microscopes for two main reasons,” said Hudspeth. “First, the microscope quality is very high—the instruments, the lenses, and all of the parts are of excellent fabrication. Second, and probably more importantly, Evident personnel are always willing to listen to us about our need for specialized products and to make modifications available that allow us to better perform our work.”

“If we’re trying to achieve a certain thing, and we want to know how we can do it, Evident is there to answer our questions.”

There are 30 million people in the United States alone who have significant hearing problems—we all know someone with hearing issues. Worldwide, it is estimated that 500 million people have hearing problems, and most of these issues are caused by damage to sensory hair cells. “Our long-term mission is to help people who are losing their hearing or have lost their hearing to hear again,” Hudspeth added.

Hudspeth’s extensive research has led to numerous developmental studies with the potential to someday take us to a cellular regeneration solution. Recently, he and his team have been exploring regenerative possibilities associated with the Hippo signaling pathway, which controls organ size in animals through the regulation of cell growth.

The Hippo signaling pathway acts as a block to excess tissue growth. “Unblocking” it in a prescriptive fashion may allow cells that cannot typically heal themselves to regenerate—including inner ear sensory hair cells, as well as heart and retina cells. Hudspeth’s team recently identified a molecule that can inhibit part of the pathway. They are now analyzing the effect of this molecule on live animals and collaborating with other researchers to explore its possibilities for those suffering not just from hearing issues but also sight loss and cardiovascular disease.