The National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD) awarded a 5-year, $415,743 Project Grant under the Research Related to Deafness and Communication Disorders program (CFDA 93.173) to Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU). The funding supports research to investigate the role of macrophages, a type of immune cell, in the development, homeostasis, and repair of the tympanic membrane (eardrum). The research aims to characterize the origin, diversity, and dynamics of macrophages in the tympanic membrane, as well as the molecular signaling involved in tympanic membrane wound healing. This knowledge could help spur the development of new therapeutics to facilitate repair of damaged eardrums, which are a common clinical problem affecting millions of people worldwide. The grant period runs from February 1, 2025 through January 31, 2030.