Federal Project Grant Award Summary

Creighton University received a $161,405 Project Grant award 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 July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2029. The award supports biomedical research investigating how noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) alters the auditory efferent system—specifically the lateral olivocochlear (LOC) neurons responsible for brain-to-ear feedback control. The research addresses critical gaps in understanding whether changes in LOC neuron activity and gene expression following NIHL are adaptive or pathological by examining correlations between electrophysiological properties and molecular expression at the single-cell level using patch-seq methodology.

The project delivers research services and scientific outputs designed to elucidate mechanisms underlying auditory system dysfunction and potential compensatory mechanisms following noise exposure. By characterizing how NIHL alters LOC neuron activity patterns, calcium channel gene expression, and neuropeptide signaling, the research contributes to foundational knowledge that may inform future therapeutic interventions for hearing loss-related disorders such as tinnitus and hyperacusis. The work is conducted at Creighton University's facility in Omaha, Nebraska, consistent with NIDCD's mission to support research addressing problems affecting individuals with deafness and communication disorders.