Paige Brooks (@PaigeBrooksBio) has received an F31 NRSA training fellowship!

Congratulations, to our trainee Paige Brooks, Ph.D. candidate. Paige has worked hard and now has been awarded an F31 NRSA training fellowship.

Paige is interested in the development and maintenance of the peripheral auditory system and specifically focuses on the cochlea. The cochlea is a spiral-shaped organ in the inner ear that contains specialized cells necessary for normal hearing. One of these cell types, the spiral ganglion neurons, are necessary for most therapeutic hearing interventions, including hearing aids and cochlear implants. Despite their importance, these neurons are also susceptible to even moderate noise damage, making their preservation vital. Paige's work outlines the potential for another cochlear cell type, the otic mesenchyme cells, to support the survival of these crucial neurons.

Way to go, Paige!