Deafness Cure Step Closer With Stem Cells

A cure for a common form of deafness known as auditory neuropathy is a step closer, after researchers from the University of Sheffield in the UK used human embryonic stem cells to repair a similar type of hearing loss in gerbils.
Project leader and stem-cell biologist Marcelo Rivolta and colleagues report their work in the 12 September online issue of Nature.

Many of the 275 million people worldwide with moderate-to-profound hearing loss have it because of a faulty link between the inner ear and the brain.

Using gerbils and human embryonicstem cells, Rivolta and colleagues describe how they repaired an important part of that link: the auditory nerve.

"We have the proof of concept that we can use human embryonic stem cells to repair the damaged ear," Rivolta told Nature News.

As well as proving that stem cells can repair damaged hearing, the researchers hope the breakthrough will lead to new treatments.

"More work needs to be done, but now we know it's possible," said Rivolta.

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