Back Row: JP Willging, JH Greinwald, A deAlarcon, EM Arjmand; Middle Row: DK Brown, SR Shott, MJ Rutter; Front Row: EG Elluru, RT Cotton, CM Myer, DI Choo
The diagnosis of hearing loss is problematic. By the time a hearing loss is suspected, a child can already have significant language delays. Current paradigms for detecting the etiology of hearing loss can be expensive and don't screen for most of the genetic causes of hearing loss. Dr. John H. Greinwald, Jr and his research lab are currently working to drastically change the face of hearing loss diagnosis. Dr. Greinwald is currently developing a microarray diagnostic gene chip that will identify the known genetic causes of hearing loss from a single blood sample. Coupled with state-wide mandatory newborn hearing screenings, this chip will allow for the detection of the etiology in infants with hearing loss. This will allow physicians and healthcare providers to develop treatments and therapies prospectively thus narrowing or eliminating the developmental gap between diagnosis and treatment that currently exists. This project is currently finishing the validation stage.
Congenital sensorineural hearing loss is the most common neurological birth defect in the U.S. and congenital CMV is one of the most common causes of congenital SNHL. Unfortunately, the systemic administration of the most effective antiviral agents can cause a range of problems, including Hematopoetic and renal toxicity as well as possible carcinogenic and aspermatogenic effects. There is a clear clinical demand for safe and effective treatments for CMV-related hearing loss. Dr. Daniel Choo is currently working on a NIH funded project looking at safe, efficacious delivery of antiviral agents directly to the middle ear space thus avoiding the problems caused by systemic administration of these same antiviral agents.
Many congenital airway anomalies arise from problems with the development of the cartilage that comprises the airway. Dr. Ravi G. Elluru is currently undertaking a study whereby he is looking to characterize the molecular mechanisms that pattern the development of the cartilaginous airway. Specifically, he is looking at the role of Sox9 in the development and proliferation of cartilage that forms the tracheal rings. A large portion of the patients seen by the Otolaryngology division are those children who require surgical intervention for their airway anomalies. Dr. Elluru hopes to gain insight into the treatment of these anomalies possibly through the use of genetic engineering. Another outcome of his work in this area may be the ability to predict the outcome of certain patients with a particular type of airway anomaly based of his or her genetic markers.
After a series of burns in the OR, the authors worked with the device manufacturer to define the problem and helped facilitate industry changes (which are coming this year) to minimize the potential for causing burns in the future.
2007 Certificate of Honor American Academy of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery
Chair, Search Committee for Communication Sciences Research Center
Chair, American Society of Pediatric Otolaryngology Committee on Health Policy and Economics
Chosen as member Special Emphasis Study Section for the NIDCD
Awarded 3rd place for the Potsic Award at the American Society of Pediatric Otolarygology and was awarded a 3rd place poster award at the Medical Student Summer Research Program
Selected by Consumer’s Research Council of America as a member of the “Guide to America’s Top Physicians”
Awarded the 2007 Distinguished Service Award "For Exceptional Services in the Scientific Programs, Exhibits, Continuing Education Courses and Instructional Courses of this Society" at the American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery Foundation
fMRI in Patients with Cochlear Implants
