Federal Project Grant Award Summary

Award Details: Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary received a $701,848 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), awarded July 10, 2026, with completion targeted for May 31, 2031.

Research Deliverables: This multidisciplinary research project investigates auditory encoding, perception, and neuroplasticity in the deaf adult brain following inner ear gene therapy. The awardee will conduct basic and translational research using adeno-associated virus (AAV)-based otoferlin gene therapy (OGT) in congenitally deaf mice to determine how peripheral and central auditory pathways transform when cochlear afferent signaling is activated in adulthood. The project employs simultaneous single-unit ensemble recordings from the auditory cortex and inferior colliculus to map neural decoding of acoustic features and the emergence of sound-evoked responses, challenging critical period dogma and advancing understanding of adult auditory system plasticity. Research outputs will include peer-reviewed publications, neural coding datasets, and mechanistic insights applicable to human hearing restoration and gene therapy development, contributing to solutions for individuals with deafness and communication disorders.