Federal Project Grant Award Summary

Pennsylvania State University's Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center received a $644,776 Project Grant from the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD) under the Research Related to Deafness and Communication Disorders program (CFDA 93.173), effective February 1, 2026 through January 31, 2031. This grant supports fundamental biomedical research investigating the role of Class III myosins (MYO3A and MYO3B) in governing inner ear hair cell stereocilia length and width—structural elements critical to normal hearing and vestibular function. The research addresses how mutations in MYO3A lead to deafness and stereocilia degeneration, with the primary objective of determining mechanistically why MYO3B cannot compensate for the loss of functional MYO3A through biochemical and biophysical characterization of motor properties.

The project deliverables include comprehensive ensemble and single-molecule biophysical studies characterizing the mechanical properties and load sensitivity of MYO3A and MYO3B motors, as well as investigations into how deafness-associated variants impact protein function. Research outputs are expected to advance fundamental understanding of stereocilia formation and maintenance mechanisms, with potential implications for hearing loss prevention and therapeutic interventions targeting communication disorders. The work will be conducted at the Penn State Hershey Medical Center location in Hershey, Pennsylvania, leveraging the institution's specialized expertise in biomedical research and access to advanced biophysical research capabilities.