Study Points to Possible New Therapy for Hearing Loss — University of Rochester

The researchers found that activating the ERBB2 pathway triggered a cascading series of cellular events by which cochlear support cells began to proliferate and start the process of activating other neighboring stem cells to become new sensory hair cells. Furthermore, it appears that this process not only could impact the regeneration of sensory hair cells, but also support their integration with nerve cells.

"The process of repairing hearing is a complex problem and requires a series of cellular events," said White. "You have to regenerate sensory hair cells and these cells have to function properly and connect with the necessary network of neurons. This research demonstrates a signaling pathway that can be activated by different methods and could represent a new approach to cochlear regeneration and, ultimately, restoration of hearing." ​

Read the full article:
https://medicalxpress.com/news/2018-10-therapy-loss.amp

 

Is the ERBB2 a novel pathway from Frequency's drug trial? Who/when is testing the "two drugs, originally developed to stimulate stem cell activity in the eyes and pancreas, that are known activate ERBB2 signaling."?

 

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/ejn.14183

The full study if anyone is interested.

 

thank you for posting this. there are several methods now for achieving cochlear regeneration. we need to branch out of the USA, UK, and EU and find ENTs in other countries to help us. The FDA is too slow. We have to get something going.

 

I wish it were that easy and the case. The US brings the majority of innovation to the medical marketplace because they are not gov't run healthcare. As long as private market monetary rewards are the end game, that will continue to drive innovation.

Where do you propose doing this unfettered research?

You are right, the FDA moves very slowly. Part of that is funding. Our society feels that funding a 5th Gen fighter jet at trillions of dollars is more important than medical progress and innovation. Don't get me wrong. I support defense funding, but we need to prioritize those dollars.

The FDA is very, very understaffed. They are able to recruit good scientist and researchers, but they can't retain them due to the stress and overwhelming workloads. They move on to private companies for better work/life balance and compensation.

Do we even know that FDA is the inhibiting factor in stem cell research in this area? I have no idea.

Yes, thank you very much for posting this.

 

No dude, about half of the discoveries are from universities and they already get direct funding from the NIH. When a university operating on government grants makes a discovery that could help people, congress then needs to step in and super fund the FDA trials as efficiently and quickly as possible, as if it held the priority of a military airstrike.

 

Could you give me examples of NIH funded research that has lead to market leading medical devices?
Dude.

 

https://www.statnews.com/2018/02/12/nih-funding-drug-development/

They fund the basic science.

 

https://www.ajc.com/news/health-med...-hearing-loss/VgHzDFGzSHlgqt5MXI1pdP/amp.html

Media spreading the news, hope this really works, hope hearing can be restored soon.