U24DC020855

Modern cellular and molecular techniques to study the human temporal bone - project summary.

In the present proposal, we will investigate new tissue processing protocols designed to preserve DNA, as well as the morphology. We will preserve, process, and make available human ear tissue to inner ear basic researchers. They will be able to compare with their animal models.

We have experience using high-resolution advanced imaging techniques to the postmortem temporal bones, and also the membranous structures of the inner ear. We propose to develop and apply these imaging techniques systematically and to correlate the imaging findings with the temporal bone histopathology aiming to visualize structures with non-destructive techniques.

In Specific Aim 1, we will serve as part of a collaborative network providing technical services for procuring, preparing, sectioning, and distributing high-quality human inner ear tissues aiming to increase interest in the use of human inner ear tissues for basic scientists. We will continue to procure post-mortem temporal bones aiming to minimize post-mortem times and will facilitate and reach out to additional prospective researchers through the collaborative network and through meetings and provide human inner ear tissues of high-quality.

We will create a hematoxylin and eosin digital shareable library with our archive of temporal bones, and this library will be shared through the National Temporal Bone Registry to scientists. We will disseminate protocols for temporal bone collection, processing, and inner ear tissue processing and provide hands-on instruction on these protocols on demand and via Zoom conferences.

In Specific Aim 2, we will develop new tissue collection and processing techniques for temporal bones by using animal temporal bones to develop techniques which preserve DNA, mRNA, and proteins and preserve morphology. We aim to develop new tissue processing protocols which will allow for the use of immunofluorescence, DNA extraction and sequencing, and the application of RNAscope, a powerful in situ hybridization tool. A new protocol will be developed to further optimize sequencing the DNA from the extracted DNA using temporal bone specimens to correlate the gene sequencing with the histopathology.

In Aim 3, we will improve temporal bone inner ear visualization using novel non-destructive imaging techniques which we will correlate with histopathology.

In Aim 4, we will develop a deep learning-based stain transformation framework to visualize specific anatomical structures such as the spiral ganglion neurons to obtain accurate histopathological analysis.

Los Angeles University Of California

TO INVESTIGATE SOLUTIONS TO PROBLEMS DIRECTLY RELEVANT TO INDIVIDUALS WITH DEAFNESS OR DISORDERS OF HUMAN COMMUNICATION IN THE AREAS OF HEARING, BALANCE, SMELL, TASTE, VOICE, SPEECH, AND LANGUAGE. THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE ON DEAFNESS AND OTHER COMMUNICATION DISORDERS (NIDCD) SUPPORTS RESEARCH AND RESEARCH TRAINING, INCLUDING INVESTIGATION INTO THE ETIOLOGY, PATHOLOGY, DETECTION, TREATMENT, AND PREVENTION OF DISORDERS OF HEARING AND OTHER COMMUNICATION PROCESSES, PRIMARILY THROUGH THE SUPPORT OF BASIC AND APPLIED RESEARCH IN ANATOMY, AUDIOLOGY, BIOCHEMISTRY, BIOENGINEERING, EPIDEMIOLOGY, GENETICS, IMMUNOLOGY, MICROBIOLOGY, MOLECULAR BIOLOGY, THE NEUROSCIENCES, OTOLARYNGOLOGY, PSYCHOLOGY, PHARMACOLOGY, PHYSIOLOGY, PSYCHOPHYSICS, SPEECH-LANGUAGE PATHOLOGY, AND OTHER SCIENTIFIC DISCIPLINES. THE NIDCD SUPPORTS: (1) RESEARCH INTO THE EVALUATION OF TECHNIQUES AND DEVICES USED IN DIAGNOSIS, TREATMENT, REHABILITATION, AND PREVENTION OF DISORDERS OF HEARING AND OTHER COMMUNICATION PROCESSES, (2) RESEARCH INTO PREVENTION AND EARLY DETECTION AND DIAGNOSIS OF HEARING LOSS AND SPEECH, VOICE, AND LANGUAGE DISORDERS AND RESEARCH INTO PREVENTING THE EFFECTS OF SUCH DISORDERS BY MEANS OF APPROPRIATE REFERRAL AND REHABILITATION, (3) RESEARCH INTO THE DETECTION, TREATMENT, AND PREVENTION OF DISORDERS OF HEARING AND OTHER COMMUNICATION PROCESSES IN THE ELDERLY POPULATION AND ITS REHABILITATION TO ENSURE CONTINUED EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION SKILLS, AND (4) RESEARCH TO EXPAND KNOWLEDGE OF THE EFFECTS OF ENVIRONMENTAL AGENTS THAT INFLUENCE HEARING OR OTHER COMMUNICATION PROCESSES. SMALL BUSINESS INNOVATION RESEARCH (SBIR) PROGRAM: TO INCREASE PRIVATE SECTOR COMMERCIALIZATION OF INNOVATIONS DERIVED FROM FEDERAL RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT, TO ENCOURAGE SMALL BUSINESS PARTICIPATION IN FEDERAL RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT, AND TO FOSTER PARTICIPATION OF SOCIALLY AND ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED SMALL BUSINESS CONCERNS AND WOMEN-OWNED SMALL BUSINESS CONCERNS IN TECHNOLOGICAL INNOVATION. SMALL BUSINESS TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER (STTR) PROGRAM: TO STIMULATE AND FOSTER SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNOLOGICAL INNOVATION THROUGH COOPERATIVE RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT CARRIED OUT BETWEEN SMALL BUSINESS CONCERNS AND RESEARCH INSTITUTIONS, TO FOSTER TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER BETWEEN SMALL BUSINESS CONCERNS AND RESEARCH INSTITUTIONS, TO INCREASE PRIVATE SECTOR COMMERCIALIZATION OF INNOVATIONS DERIVED FROM FEDERAL RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT, AND TO FOSTER AND ENCOURAGE PARTICIPATION OF SOCIALLY AND ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED SMALL BUSINESS CONCERNS AND WOMEN-OWNED SMALL BUSINESS CONCERNS IN TECHNOLOGICAL INNOVATION.

93.173 - Research Related to Deafness and Communication Disorders

National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD) [HHS - NIH]

Los Angeles, California 900242704 United States

Single Zip Code

NIDCD National Human Ear Resource Network (U24 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) (RFA-DC-23-002)

Amendment Since initial award the total obligations have increased 203% from $667,203 to $2,022,060.