AHRF News

For 2010, the American Hearing Research Foundation will be funding six grants. This year, we received the highest number of grant proposals in our history—41 proposals in all. The following grants will begin on January 1, 2010, and will be funded for $20,000 for one year.

Nicole Schmitt, M.D.
University of Washington, Seattle
“Significance of tumor necrosis factor alpha in cisplatin ototoxicity in Vivo”

Douglas Cotanche, Ph.D.
Boston University School of Medicine, Massachusetts
“Cell fate regulation in cochlear development and regeneration”

Anand Mhatre, Ph.D.
New York University, New York
“Biological role of nonmuscle myosin IIA in sensory hair cells”

Saima Riazuddin, Ph.D.
Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Ohio
“Generation and characterization of a mouse model of DFNB26”

Angelika Doetzlhofer, Ph.D.
Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
“Response of supporting cell to hair loss in the mammalian cochlea”

Sharba Bandyopadhyay, Ph.D.
University of Maryland, College Park
“Alterations in neural processing in the auditory cortex with early noise induced hearing loss”

Nicole Schmitt, M.D.
University of Washington, Seattle
“Significance of tumor necrosis factor alpha in cisplatin ototoxicity in Vivo”

Cisplatin is a common chemotherapy drug used to treat cancer that often has the side effect of causing hearing loss in the higher frequencies. The hearing loss is due to the loss or damage of outer hair cells in the cochlea. It is thought that the cisplatin causes oxidative stress within the hair cells to cause them to enter apoptosis, or programmed cell death. One of the downstream factors that is triggered by cisplatin is a pro-inflammatory chemical called tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha). In test tube studies, it has been shown that TNF-alpha plays an important role in ototoxicity. Schmitt and colleagues will investigate the role of TNF-alpha in animals. They will use mice to determine the location of TNF-alpha generation in the mouse cochlea after administration of cisplatin, and also investigate the level of toxicity caused by cisplatin in mice that do not produce TNF-alpha, and in mice that overproduce TNF-alpha.

Douglas Cotanche, Ph.D.
Boston University School of Medicine, Massachusetts
“Cell fate regulation in cochlear development and regeneration”

Birds can regenerate hair cells in the cochlea once they are lost – an ability that mammals do not possess. When hair cells are lost in birds, following loud noise exposure or administration of ototoxic drugs in the lab, the supporting cells around the hair cells turn into new hair cells. Cotanche and colleagues hope that by studying this process in birds, they will be able to induce the mammalian cochlear cells to undergo a similar regeneration. Specifically, the researchers will study the genetics involved in supporting cell transduction into hair cells in chicks and mice. They hope to gain understanding of the molecular processes involved in hair cell regeneration in order to cause the same regeneration in mammalian cells.

Anand Mhatre, Ph.D.
New York University, New York
“Biological role of nonmuscle myosin IIA in sensory hair cells”

Myosin is a cellular structure normally found in muscles, but it is also found in other cells and often serves as a structural scaffolding for the cell. A gene called MYH9 produces a nonmuscle myosin protein called NMHC-IIA. Mutations in this gene have been linked to hereditary hearing loss. NMHC-IIA has been found in adult mouse sensory hair cells. Mhatre and colleagues want to study how the complete loss of the MYH9 gene would affect hearing in mice, but aniomals without this gene die as embryos. To get around this problem, the researchers will inactivate the MYH9 gene post-natally within the ear. They will be able to test their hypothesis that the loss of NMHC-IIA (after birth) will disrupt the structural and/or functional integrity of sensory hair cells and will result in hearing loss. The results of this study will provide insight into the role of NMHC-IIA in the sensory hair cells and the mechanism of hearing loss caused by its dysfunction.

Saima Riazuddin, Ph.D.
Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Ohio
“Generation and characterization of a mouse model of DFNB26”

More than 100 gene locations have been indentified as contributing to hearing loss in its various forms. However, knowledge on how genes affect hearing remain inadequate. Researchers need to be able to study and develop animal models to study disease causing mutations, and to define the molecular pathways leading to hearing loss to ultimately develop therapeutic approaches to treating deafness. Riazuddin and colleagues have recently mapped a deafness causing gene called DFNB26 in an extended family. They also discovered another gene that that suppresses the deafness-causing gene. The researchers hope to study how these two genes work to cause and prevent deafness among the members of this family by developing mice with these genes. The study will provide valuable models for defining the role of DFNB26 in the inner ear and to develop treatment strategies for this disease.

Angelika Doetzlhofer, Ph.D.
Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
“Response of supporting cell to hair loss in the mammalian cochlea”

Doetzelhofer and colleagues hope to uncover the molecular signals activated in supporting cells after hair cell loss, and what pathways may inhibit hair cell regeneration. In mammals, hair cells only develop during embryonic development, and when hair cells are lost, they are not replaced. However, in birds, when hair cells are lost, supporting cells can transform into new hair cells. Researchers believe that supporting hair cells, even in mammals, have the ability to transform into hair cells, but that signals from adjacent cells and/or dying hair cells block supporting cells from becoming new hair cells. Doetzlhofer and colleagues will investigate these inhibitory pathways and will look at changes in gene expression in supporting cells as hair cells are lost. Understanding the molecular mechanisms that prevent hair cell regeneration in mammals is a crucial first stem in developing successful hair cell replacement therapies.

Sharba Bandyopadhyay, Ph.D.
University of Maryland, College Park
“Alterations in neural processing in the auditory cortex with early noise induced hearing loss”

Bandyopadhyay and colleagues will investigate how areas of inhibitory and excitatory neurons in the auditory cortex change due to early sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL). Understanding changes in these areas after early SNHL will help to uncover mechanisms leading to altered perception of sound. These discoveries will help to design better hearing aid algorithms and cochlear implant stimulation paradigms that take these changes in auditory processing into account.

Katherine Shim, PhD

Assistant Professor
Division of Research
Department of Otolaryngology & Communication Sciences

Dr. Shim is interested in how the three-dimensional structure of the inner ear is formed during embryonic development and how the sensory regions of the inner ear epithelium are patterned.

Dr. Shim takes a molecular and genetic approach to understanding inner ear development in the mouse, and current work is focused on understanding the role of the Sprouty family of receptor tyrosine kinase antagonists in inner ear development and function. In particular, Dr. Shim found that Sprouty2 mutant mice are born with severe hearing impairment associated with a postnatal cell fate transformation of a Deiters’ cell into a pillar cell, resulting in the formation of an ectopic space (tunnel of Corti) within the auditory sensory epithelium.

It is her hope that these studies will uncover mechanisms by which congenital hearing and balance disorders arise, and provide clues to their treatment.

Education/Training

• Bachelor of Science (BS) in Biology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, 1993

• Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Biochemistry, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 2001

• Postdoctoral Scholar, University of California, San Francisco, CA, 2007

Society Memberships

• Association for Research in Otolaryngology

Research Interests

• Specification and morphogenesis of the inner ear epithelium

• Patterning of the auditory sensory epithelium

As of July 1, 2008, Sharon Parmet will become the Foundation’s Executive Director. Parmet came aboard the AHRF in July 2006 as Associate Communications and Development Associate. Since then, she has helped modernize the office, redesigned the newsletter, Soundings, and created a twice-monthly newsletter, Soundwaves. She has also helped to significantly develop the website.

For 38 years, Bill Lederer has served as the Executive Director of The American Hearing Research Foundation.  What started out as a foundation totaling $30,000 in assets has since grown to nearly $6 million. He notes that this would not have been possible without the ongoing support and dedication of all those affiliated with the foundation over the years.

The biggest accomplishments seen during his 38 years are the combined efforts with the board to raise funds for the foundation.  He also references the importance of the research programs growth from city to state to regional and nationally based. The research conducted throughout the years is known worldwide and has influenced the ongoing opportunities for future studies in hearing related issues.

He is very thankful to all those he was come to know over the years and looks forward spending his upcoming days with playwriting, poetry, and setting up writing programs for prisoners in correctional facilities. Bill also looks forward to spending time amongst his family: His wife, Noel, their 7 children and 17 grandchildren. They also plan on taking a trip to National Glacier Park this August and planning other future travels in the meantime.

We wish Bill well on his future endeavors and thank him for the hard work and dedication he has done at AHRF.

Hugh Barber, M.D. Obituary

Hugh Barber, M.D., a giant in the field of neurotology, passed away on December 14, 2006.

Born in 1923, Dr. Barber graduated from the University of Toronto in 1945. He then went on to complete his fellowship training in Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery in Toronto. In 1968 he became a member of the Active Staff at Sunnybrook. The next year he was appointed Chief of the Department of Otolaryngology, a position he held for some 17 years. Dr. Barber was a member of the American Neurotology since 1976.

Dr. Barber had an international reputation as an authority in neurotology. Many of the residents and fellows who trained with him now lead numerous departments of otolaryngology world-wide. In 1970 Dr. Barber was promoted to Professor and in his retirement was bestowed the special honor of Professor Emeritus by the Faculty of Medicine.

Benefit Show to Raise Awareness of Noise-Induced Hearing Loss at the Empty Bottle Sunday, November 18, 2007

On Sunday, November 18, 2007, the American Hearing Research Foundation (AHRF) held a benefit concert at the Empty Bottle to help raise awareness of noise-induced hearing loss. Proceeds from the show will help the AHRF fund research into hearing loss at universities and hospitals throughout the United States and Canada, which the Chicago-based foundation has been doing for more than 30 years with over 165 research projects under its belt.

Noise-induced hearing loss is the number one preventable form of hearing loss, and can cause permanent hearing impairment as a result of prolonged exposure to high noise levels. Musicians especially suffer from noise-induced hearing loss due to the nature of their profession.

One of the simplest things a musician can do to help protect his or her hearing is to wear ear plugs. Ear plugs by Earlove were given out free of charge.

More than 100 people attended the event, which was hosted by Eric Chial, of the band The Bon Mots. The event raised close to $100 in net profits that went to the American Hearing Research Foundation.

"We are so inspired by the great turnout for this event," says Sharon Parmet, Associate Executive Director of the AHRF and one of the event organizers. "We’re definitely planning similar events in the future to spread the word among musicians and their fans that noise can and will damage your hearing over time, but that by protecting your hearing with earplugs, you can preserve it for a long time to come."

The event was sponsored in part by The Ear Institute of Chicago, LLC. Shure microphone manufacturing company will be providing some items for raffle as well.

The three bands that played the show included Le Concorde, which used the event to debut its new CD “Suite." The Its, and The Handcuffs also played.

About Le Concorde:
Having witnessed many friends in the music world suffer from permanent hearing loss, Le Concorde was eager to help AHRF coordinate the event and raise awareness by enlisting friends, The Its and The Handcuffs. On Le Concorde’s new release Suite, (Le Grand Magistery / Fourchette) singer/multi-instrumentalist, Stephen Becker joins forces with his childhood musical hero, David Gamson (Scritti Politti, Miles Davis, Chaka Khan) and veteran 80s mix-maestro, John “Tokes” Potoker. Recorded in Paris, Los Angeles, and Chicago, Suite follows Le Concorde’s critically acclaimed Universe and Villa (March Records), which was voted an album of the year in 2005 by XM Radio and New York’s the Village Voice. The new release builds upon Le Concorde’s trademark sound: ambitious, indie-pop arrangements fueled by hopeful, astute lyrics, spatial textures; dream-like harmonies, and complex syncopations and melodic counterpoint.

The Handcuffs and Hearing Loss:
Brad Elvis Steakley, of The Handcuffs, is one of the most well-respected drummers in Chicago and the music industry at large, and, not surprisingly, suffers from hearing loss. His first band, the Screams were on MCA and toured with Van Halen longer than any other support act on the Van Halen II tour in the late 70s. In the 80s, his new-wave, rockabilly band, The Elvis Brothers, rose to fame with worldwide tour dates, appearances on MTV, and multiple albums—one produced by Adrian Belew. Brad’s hearing loss isn’t just from being a drummer, it comes from a lifetime of exposure to loud music as a career musician. He has been wearing earplugs for several years, and is a strong advocate for getting younger musicians to start wearing them sooner to prevent hearing from fading.

The Handcuffs’ latest release “Model For A Revolution” has rapidly gained notoriety outside Chicago with airplay on KROQ (Rodney on the Roq) and songs featured in the television shows Laguna Beach and Grays Anatomy.

About The Its:
One of Chicago’s hottest new bands, The Its, released their second album Mistakes! this summer. The Its parallel Le Concorde in their skillful efforts to create a new sound by merging 80s new-wave influences with 90s indie-sensibilities. The band is rapidly gaining a local following for their remarkable live performances and stylish musical élan.

Noise-Induced Hearing Loss Facts

• Noise-induced hearing loss is cumulative, permanent and preventable.
• Twenty-five percent of the work force in the United States is regularly exposed to potentially damaging noise
• One in every ten (28 million) Americans has hearing loss. As baby boomers reach retirement age starting in 2010, this number is expected to rapidly climb and nearly double by the year 2030.
• The prevalence of hearing loss increases with age, up to 1 in 3 over age 65. Most hearing losses develop over a period of 25 to 30 years.
• Among seniors, hearing loss is the third most prevalent, but treatable disabling condition, behind arthritis and hypertension.
• While the vast majority of Americans (95%) with hearing loss could be successfully treated with hearing aids, only 22% (6.35 million individuals) currently use them. Only 5% of hearing loss in adults can be improved through medical or surgical treatment.

Warning Signs

• You can’t hear someone three feet away.
• You have pain in your ears after leaving a noisy area.
• You hear a ringing or buzzing (tinnitus) in your ears immediately after exposure to noise.
• You have difficulty understanding speech.

American Hearing Research Foundation Selects 5 Research Projects to Fund for 2008

On October 16, 2007, the American Hearing Research Foundation Research Committee selected five research projects to fund in 2008, for a total grant amount of $105,000.

“This year we received more research proposals than ever before,” says Sharon Parmet, Associate Director of the AHRF. Thirty-three proposals were received.

The five proposals selected for funding in 2008 are:

• “The Role of KCNQ4 Channels in Progressive Hearing Loss.” Liping Nie, Ph.D., University of California, Davis
• “Prevent and Treat Noise-Induced Hearing Loss by Drugs Blocking T-type Calcium Channels.” Jianxin Bao, Ph.D., Washington University, St. Louis, Missouri
• “Determination of Redox State in Hair Cell Mitochondria.” Richard Hallworth, Ph.D., Creighton University School of Medicine, Omaha, Nebraska
• “The effects of Selective Hair Cell Damage on Temporal Envelope Coding in the Auditory Nerve.” Michael G. Heinz, Ph.D., Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana
• “Characterization of a de novo Protein Expressed in the Mammalian Cochlea.” Jing Zheng, Ph.D., Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois

what if widgets gives back to the American Hearing Research Foundation

The American Hearing Research Foundation is pleased to announce that new product development company, what if widgets, will be donating 5 percent of its sales profits to the Foundation.

What if widgets was founded by Mike Simmons, a product designer living in San Francisco, who decided to strike out on his own and start his own company. Simmons developed earbud JACK, the flagship product of What If Widgets. Jack is a cool holder for your MP3 earbuds that keeps them neat, organized and wrapped up around JACK’s “arms.” JACK officially went on sale on October 18, 2007.

“JACK saved my life!” reported one customer.  “Before today, everything seemed in total disarray.  But now, with JACK, I feel like order has been restored, and I can move on.”  Most others were simply happy to avoid tangled cords.  Participating resellers were MacFriends, Amazon, and J&R in NYC.

Simmons decided to give back to the community when he founded what if widgets, and choose the American Hearing Research Foundation as one of the organizations he would donate to.

AHRF Elects New Board Member to Also Serve on The Research Committee

At the AHRF’s 2007 Annual Board Meeting, held on May 16, the Board of Directors elected David A. Klodd, Ph.D. to serve on the Board and also on the Research Committee.

AHRF Awards Wiley H. Harrison Grant to Adam Markaryan, Ph.D. of the University of Chicago

May 16, 2007   The American Hearing Research Foundation will give a Wiley H. Harrison, M.D. Grant to Adam Markaryan, Ph.D., of the University of Chicago to study the effect of mitochondrial deletions in the cochlea on hearing loss.

Dr. Markaryan is an assistant professor in the otolaryngology/head & neck surgery department.

He will use the grant, which gives a total of $25,000 over the course of one year, to study the degeneration of the cochlea with age, paying extra attention to the role that genetic mutations in the cell’s mitochondria play. He will study genetic deletions (mutations) in human cochlear tissues using DNA analysis.

The study will utilize cochlear tissues dissected from celloidin embedded temporal bones from more than 30 individuals with presbycusis and with normal hearing selected on strict audiometric criteria. These temporal bones have also been evaluated by quantitative morphometric methods.  A relationship between the amount and type of DNA deletions in the mitochondria and the severity of hearing loss will be investigated. This study may help to establish a threshold level for cochlear deletions in presbycusis (age related hearing loss) and identify the morphologic abnormalities associated with specific mitochondrial DNA deletions.

Dr. Markaryan received his bachelor’s degree from St. Petersburg Chemical/Pharmaceutical Institute in 1976, and earned his Ph.D. from Moscow State University in 1982 in biochemistry.
The Wiley H. Harrison, M.D. Grant is named after Wiley H. Harrison, M.D., who was the American Hearing Research Foundation’s President from 1998 to 2000, and Chairman of the Research Committee from 1978 to 2000.
The American Hearing Research Foundation gives a grant in honor of Dr. Harrison to support research in otology. Grant proposals are reviewed by CORE, with final say in the project selected remaining with the AHRF.

Call for Proposals for 2008 Eugene L. Derlacki, M.D. Research Grant

The American Hearing Research Foundation announces a call for proposals in the field of hearing research to be considered for the 2008 Eugene L. Derlacki, M.D. Grant.

This grant provides a maximum of $25,000 per year for two years. It is dedicated to hearing research and is intended for more significant research projects requiring funding that extend beyond the usual AHRF grant of $20,000.

This grant is named in honor of Eugene L. Derlacki, M.D., who dedicated more than 50 years to the field of otolaryngology and to helping the hearing impaired community. Dr. Derlacki co-founded the American Hearing Research Foundation
and served as President of its Board of Directors from 1977 to May of 2002.

Since the establishment of this grant in 2003, three awards have been made:

            “Cellular Repair of the Murine Cochlea After Acoustic Injury”,
              Keiko Hirose, M.D., Principal Investigator

            “Emotional Functioning of Children with Cochlear Implants”,
              Nathan A. Fox, Ph.D. Principal Investigator

“Role of JNK Signaling in the Death of Spiral Ganglion Neurons After                    
  Hair Cell Loss”, Steven H. Green, Ph.D., Principal Investigator

Researchers are invited to apply for this grant using the Research Grant Application Guidelines. Applications are due on August 1, 2007. These can be found on our website at www.american-hearing.org. According to the rules of the grant, the recipient will receive the first year funding in January, 2008. After the first year, a progress report must be submitted to the Research Committee. If the report is approved, the second year funding will be awarded in January, 2009. 

The Eugene L. Derlacki, M.D. Grant is awarded for excellence in the field of hearing research. This grant provides $25,000 per year for two years, for a total award of $50,000. It is dedicated to hearing research and is intended for more significant research projects requiring funding that extends beyond the normal AHRF grant of $20,000.

The grant is named in honor of Eugene L. Derlacki, M.D., who has dedicated more than 50 years to the field of otolaryngology and to helping the hearing-impaired community. Dr. Derlacki co-founded the American Hearing Research Foundation and served as President of its Board of Directors from 1977 to May of 2002 . He also co-founded AHRF’s two predecessor organizations: The Mid West Hearing Research Foundation, and the Mid American Hearing Research Foundation.

Dr. Derlacki has served the medical community through leadership roles in many organizations, including the Otosclerosis Study Group; the American Academy of Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology, Inc.; the American Academy of Otolaryngology, Inc.; and the American Otological Society. He has shared his knowledge through classroom teaching, conducting seminars, and publishing and producing numerous scientific papers and movies.

Researchers are invited to apply for this grant using the Research Grant Application Guidelines. According to the rules of the grant, the recipient will receive the first year funding of $25,000. After the first year, a progress report must be submitted to the Research Committee. If the report is approved, the second year funding of $25,000 will then be awarded.

Previous Eugene L. Derlacki, M.D. Grant Recipients

2005-2006 Steven H. Green, Ph.D., University of Iowa

“Role of JNK Signaling in the Death of Spiral Ganglion Neurons After Hair Cell Loss”
2004 Keiko Hirose, M.D., The Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Ohio
“Cellular Repair of the Murine Cochlea After Acoustic Injury”

Georgia Birtman Grant

 Grant application (pdf)

The American Hearing Research Foundation (AHRF), together with the Northwestern Memorial Foundation (NMF) give the Georgia Birtman Grant, named in honor of long-time supporter of the AHRF Georgia Birtman. Birtman, a school teacher with a hearing impairment, left the AHRF $2.1 million in 1991. The one-year $75,000 grant supports the advancement of research and education in otology and neurotology.

The grant is awarded to an exceptional researcher in audiology, otology or neurotology who will work in a lab at Northwestern University. The research topic involves some aspect of the diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of hearing and balance disorders related to the inner ear. The research has the potential to generate clinical care innovations, facilitate translational clinical studies, and develop creative educational programs.

Research proposals are reviewed by the AHRF and NMF.

Previous Birtman Grant Recipients

2007 - Timothy C. Hain, M.D., Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois
“Vestibular Evoked Myogenic Potentials (VEMP)”

2007 – Donna S. Whitlon, Ph.D., Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois
“Role of Intracellular Signal Transduction Mechanisms on the Regeneration of Spiral Ganglion Neuronal Morphology In Vitro”

2006 – Claus-Peter Richter, M.D., Ph.D. Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois
"Electrical Stimulation of Spiral Ganglion Cells"

2003/2004 – Alastair Lynn-Macrae, M.D., Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois
"Signal Transduction Pathways and Gene Expression in Cholesteatoma"

A. W. Altorfer (1921-2006)

A.W. “Bill” Altorfer, 85 of Peoria, died on Thursday, November 16 at the Apostolic Christian Skyline.

Mr. Altorfer served on the American Hearing Research Board of Directors since 1971, and was on the National Advisory Board of Directors for several years.

He was in research and development at ABC Washing Machine Co. until 1953, when he and his brother founded United Facilities in East Peoria. He most recently served as Chairman.

He graduated from Peoria High and the University of Illinois at Champaign, where he was a member of the Delta Epsilon fraternity. He was a longtime member of the YMCA, and was also a charter member of the Willow Knolls Country Club. He enjoyed flying and entertaining with his cowboy band, Pals of the Saddle. He attended First United Methodist Church in Peoria.

Bill Altorfer was a loyal supporter of the American hearing Research Foundation for the past 40 years. His enthusiasm will be sorely missed.

George A. Sisson, Jr., MD, a member of the Board of Directors of the American Hearing Research Foundation from 1975 to 1982, passed away on Sunday, August 6, 2006. Dr. Sisson was Chairman of the Department of Otolaryngology and part of the medical staff at Northwestern University’s School of Medicine for more than 25 years until he retired in 1993.

His research has focused on cancer of the head and neck and surgery. He helped found the Yul Brynner Head and Neck Cancer Foundation as a result of an unplanned meeting of the actor Yul Brynner, who developed hoarseness before a performance of “The King and I” in Chicago. Mr. Brynner was referred to Dr. Sisson, who treated him, and the two became fast friends. Later, when Mr. Brynner developed tumors in his jaw due to tobacco use, he decided to launch the Yul Brynner Foundation with Dr. Sisson.

Dr. Sisson received his undergraduate and medical degrees from Syracuse University, and his post-graduate training at the Bellevue Medical Center and the Manhattan Eye, Ear and Throat Hospital.