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Telephone 0808 808 0123
Textphone 0808 808 9000
informationline@rnid.org.uk
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In vivo and in vitro screening for chemical modulators of hair cell regeneration
Should provide a new list of drug targets that will facilitate efforts to restore hearing
This is a three year project at Virginia Merrill Bloedel Hearing Research Centre and run by Dr Edwin Rubel, Dr Jennifer Stone and Dr David Raible. It is due to be completed in September 2010.
Aim
To use a chemical genetic screening approach to discover drugs and drug-like compounds that alter the rate of hair cell regeneration in the zebrafish lateral line, an efficient model system for the human ear. Drugs that either promote or retard hair cell regeneration in this model will then be tested on well established in vitro models using the avian inner ear and mature mouse inner ear tissue to assess their effect on hair cell regeneration. The drug targets will then be assessed by a medicinal chemist.
Benefit
The research should provide a new list of drugs and drug targets that will facilitate efforts to restore hearing through hair cell regeneration.