The Biology of Human Otic Stem Cells

Dr Marcelo Rivolta - Principle Investigator

Our laboratory studies the behavior of human auditory stem cells and is trying to develop a therapeutic approach to treat hearing loss. We have identified and isolated a population of multipotent otic stem cells from the human fetal cochlea and established them as cell lines.

We have devised ways of directing differentiation of human embryonic stem cells into auditory phenotypes and also working with adult populations such as induced-pluripotency and bone marrow stem cells.  The potential of auditory stem cells to repair the damaged cochlea is tested in vivo by transplantation experiments using mammalian models for hearing loss and we are also exploring their use in combination with cochlear implants.

Group members:

Dr Leila Abbas

Postdoctoral researcher

Studying the use of hESC-derived otic neuroprogenitors in vivo, in combination with cochlear implants.

Email: L.Abbas@sheffield.ac.uk

Mr Darrell Barrott

Postgraduate student

Manipulation of signalling pathways that control growth and differentiation of human auditory stem cells using small molecules

Dr Sarah Boddy

Postdoctoral researcher

Inducing otic differentiation from adult stem cell populations; i.e. bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells.

Email: S.L.Boddy@sheffield.ac.uk

Miss Sarah Jacob Eshtan

Postgraduate student

Controlled differentiation of hESC-derived otic progenitors.

Email: mdp08sj@sheffield.ac.uk

Miss Amanda Naylor

Postgraduate student

Molecular profiling and comparison of auditory stem cells from mice and humans.

Email: mdp06aln@sheffield.ac.uk

Miss Micaela Pannella

Postgraduate student

Gene delivery and expression in human auditory stem cells using transposable vectors.

Email: m.pannella@sheffield.ac.uk

Mr Ricardo Romero Guevara

Postgraduate student

Differentiation of human iPS cells into otic phenotypes.

Email: mdp08rr@sheffield.ac.uk

Dr Johanna Thurlow

Postdoctoral researcher

Whole transcriptome analysis of hESC-derived otic progenitors.

Email: J.Thurlow@sheffield.ac.uk