Development of Translational Research to Improve Outcomes for Cochlear Implants

描述（由申请人提供）：尽管人工耳蜗植入物（CI）可以显著改善许多患者在安静环境中的语音识别，但CI性能和结果在个体之间是可变的;噪音中的语音识别通常更差，音乐感知没有改善。该申请的目的是招募一名年轻的研究者，该研究者具有公认的天赋和潜力，可以在具有大型临床人工耳蜗植入计划和强大的神经耳科基础科学研究历史的学术耳鼻喉科开展转化研究计划。该计划的最终目标是改善人工耳蜗植入患者的结局。本申请中概述的研究目标有三个方面。第一个项目将侧重于确定影响CI患者音高感知随时间变化的机制，以及这些变化如何影响CI表现。第二个项目是改善有残余听力的CI患者的言语感知并优化声电听力之间的相互作用。第三个项目将讨论通过人工耳蜗植入保留残余听力的问题。随着听力保护机制在动物模型中的确定和测试，这些方法将被开发并转化为人类研究。这个项目的负责人Lina Reiss博士由于她在CI技术的临床和工程方面的培训，以及她在听觉脑干回路内处理的背景，她为多学科合作提供了独特的机会。因此，她会说几种“语言”，并在研究界的不同方面之间提供了关键的联系。Reiss博士的加入将为核心中心增加一个新的维度，其强大的翻译组件专注于优化人工耳蜗植入;因此，为以前没有实现的合作打开了大门。 公共卫生相关性：人工耳蜗（CI）是最成功的神经假体，在美国有超过35，000名儿童和成人植入。虽然CI可以显着改善语音识别，但对许多患者来说，结果是可变的，在某些情况下可能会更糟。该计划的主要目标是制定策略，以改善CI患者的这些结果。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Although cochlear implants (CI) can dramatically improve speech recognition for many patients in quiet surroundings, CI performance and outcome is variable across individuals; speech recognition in noise is often worse, and music perception is not improved. The purpose for this application is to recruit a young investigator with recognized talent and potential to develop a translational research program in an academic otolaryngology department with a large clinical cochlear implant program and strong history for neuro-otologic basic science research. The ultimate goal of this program is to improve outcomes in cochlear implant patients. The research goals outlined in this application are threefold. The first project will focus on identifying the mechanisms affecting change in pitch perception over time in CI patients, and how the changes affect CI performance. The second project is to improve speech perception and optimize the interaction between the acoustic and electric hearing in CI patients with residual hearing. The third project will address preservation of residual hearing with cochlear implantation. As mechanisms for preservation of hearing are identified and tested in animal models, these methodologies will be developed and translated to human studies. The individual identified for this program, Lina Reiss, Ph.D. provides a unique opportunity for multidisciplinary collaboration because of her training in both clinical and engineering aspects of CI technology, and her background in processing within auditory brainstem circuits. As a result, she speaks several "languages", and provides a key link between different aspects of the research community. The addition of Dr. Reiss will add a new dimension to the core center with a strong translational component focusing on optimizing cochlear implantation; thus, opening doors for collaboration not previously realized. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE: The cochlear implant (CI) is the most successful neural prosthesis with over 35,000 children and adults implanted in the United States. Although CIs can dramatically improve speech recognition, for many patients the outcome is variable, and under certain conditions may be worse. The primary goal of this program is to develop strategies to improve these outcomes in CI patients.