Research Aims to Reverse Noise-Induced Hearing Loss

So, there are currently 2 well known researches that are aiming in reversing hearing loss and have demonstrated postitive results in animals:

1) The regeneration of hair cells in the inner ear, by Hinrich Staecker (Novartis).

2) The regeneration of the synaptic connections between hair cells and neurons (Gabriel Corfas, University of Michigan’s Kresge Hearing Research Institute).

The first one seems to be on first trial testing in humans, the next is still on animal testing.
An interesting article about the hypothetical plus and minuses of both therapies can be found here:

http://www.claimseval.com/research-aims-to-reverse-noise-induced-hearing-loss/

The issue of Tinnitus is not mentioned in them, we still have to assume that it is connected to the hearing restoration. Theoretically it could be abolished when and if hearing is restored. Any guess is just a guess at this point. We will know if one or both of these experimental treatments actually work in human beings and how successfully do they restore hearing.

 

I would hope that by 2020 - 2025 there will be a more significant amount of information available regarding these treatments and whether they are viable in humans.

 

I'm curious if anyone has any more information than what I have read. It seems like the Hearing Health foundation has lots of universities working on a cure for hearing loss. Stanford is saying a biological cure is maybe 10 years away. Then you have the private companies like Novartis working on a cure also. Last I read they are saying in 5 years they should be able to give back partial hearing with the CGF166 compound. Then there are other private companies like Audion also working on a cure saying they have identified several compounds that can regenerate hair cells. Any guesses as to who is going to get there first. Did they all make the same discoveries or are they different? I'm trying to learn as much as possible to see if we really are 5 to 10 years away. thanks.

 

It is hard to gather info. The above link is deleted by the author and the only news we have are conserning the Novartis treatment. Latest on the subject here: Denver Man Gets Gene Therapy to Restore Hearing