Deborah George has received a F31 award!
Congratulations to our trainee Deborah George, her diligent work researching Molecular Mechanisms of Type II Spiral Ganglion Neuron Development has led to her receiving a F31 grant!
The F31 Diversity Predoctoral Individual Ruth L. Kirchstein National Research Service Grant Award promotes Diversity in Health-Related Research
About Deb George’s research:
Hearing function and maintenance relies on the meticulous assembly of spiral ganglion neurons (SGNs). Prior research suggests type II SGNs may act as auditory nociceptors and are primed to detect outer hair cell (OHC) damage. Therefore, type II SGNs may provide a protective mechanism that prevents extreme noise from damaging OHCs, which are particularly vulnerable. Type II SGNs have a unique projection pattern, with their peripheral axons extending past the inner hair cells (IHCs), making a 90 turn toward the cochlear base followed by synapse formation with 10-15 outer hair cells (OHCs). Overall, the mechanisms related to type II SGN guidance and synapse formation with OHCs are not well understood. Deciphering how multiple axon guidance cues within the cochlea work together to direct growth cone behavior and synapse formation is fundamental to determining how the neural circuitry in the inner ear develops and can possibly be re-formed in the context of hearing loss. Based on published and preliminary data, two signaling systems are predicted to facilitate type II SGN patterning in the cochlea: planar cell polarity (PCP) signaling, and Eph/Ephrin signaling.
Way to go Deb!
