Dr. Jonathan Bird receives grant from NIDCD

Dr. Jonathan Bird recently received a 5-year (R01) grant from NIDCD, entitled, “Molecular Mechanisms of Hair Bundle Development and Maintenance.” The goal of this project is to understand how sensory cells within the ear build a mechano-sensitive “hair” bundle that detects sound​. These sound-sensitive antennae are ​​commonly disrupted in genetic forms of hearing loss and easily damaged by loud noises. This project will identify the molecules that build and maintain the hair bundle, and lead to new understanding of how hearing is maintained over a lifetime. Congrats, Jonathan!