This $400,000 project grant awarded by the National Science Foundation (NSF) under CFDA 47.041 - Engineering aims to develop a novel soft auditory brainstem implant (ABI) technology. The Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, a non-profit hospital and research center, is leading this 3-year collaborative effort with partners at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne to advance ABI design and capabilities. The project focuses on creating soft, conformable electrode arrays that can be minimally invasively implanted and provide spatially selective neural stimulation within the cochlear nucleus. The researchers will assess the durability and performance of the soft ABI system in mouse and non-human primate models, ultimately working towards translation to clinical trials for improved hearing restoration in individuals with retrocochlear deafness, particularly those with neurofibromatosis type 2. This work aims to transform neuroprosthetic interventions for auditory perception and substantially enhance the quality of life for affected patients.
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