Protecting auditory nerve cells using gene therapy and cell implants
Prof Robert Shepherd
Principal Investigator
NHMRC
The purpose of this work is to develop a technique to deliver nerve survival factors, known as neurotrophins, to the deaf cochlea (inner ear), that will be safe to use in bionic ear recipients.
We are doing this by using gene therapy and cell implantation.
We are genetically modifying cells so that they will secret neurotrophins, and essentially act like little “neurotrophin factories”. We will then make small capsules which will contain our cells, and will implant these capsules into the cochlea with a cochlear implant to provide survival signals to the auditory neurons.
Producing neurotrophins to help keep the auditory neurons
and nerves alive
Schwann cells (cells which support neurons), have been genetically
modified to over-express the neurotrophin NT-3 (in green).
The use of genetically modified cells enables us to manipulate variables such as the cell type used and the neurotrophin expressed, and also maximise the neurotrophin secretion by the cells. We can thus tailor the cell implants to suit the needs of us, and others.
We hypothesise that these techniques will help keep the auditory neurons and nerves alive, and will improve the quality of the sounds that bionic ear recipients can hear.
Funding
NHMRC
Garnett Passe and Rodney Williams Memorial Foundation