Sensorineural hearing loss is one of the most common disabilities in society and sets in place a gradual but ongoing degeneration of hair cells and auditory nerves of the cochlea. Hair cells help convert sound (acoustic) energy into neural (electrical) signals, which then travel via the auditory nerve to the brain where sound is interpreted. Injury to any part of this information highway will lead to irreversible hearing loss. The overall goal of Dr. Le's research is to develop therapeutic interventions that will regenerate this auditory pathway and restore normal hearing to those affected with hearing loss. The three specific aims of his laboratory include the following:
investigating different techniques of magnetic targeting as a therapeutic delivery method to the cochlea;
applying stem cell, gene, and refurbished drug therapy for regeneration of hair cells and auditory neurons;
and studying the permeability of blood-labyrinth barrier of the inner ear.