Description

Hearing Health Foundation’s Hearing Restoration Project (HRP) is an international research consortium investigating regeneration of sensory hair cells in the inner ear as a potential cure for hearing loss and tinnitus. Its research compares chick, zebrafish, and mouse models to understand why some species regenerate hair cells and how those findings could advance hearing restoration in people. Open sharing of data and ideas enables consortium scientists to pursue follow-up experiments without waiting for publication.

Four working groups connect molecular discovery with efforts toward therapeutic treatments. Their work includes comparing gene expression and epigenetics across species, integrating research datasets, testing supporting-cell reprogramming and gene delivery, and developing human and mouse organoid screening systems. The goal extends beyond producing hair cells to rebuilding a functional hearing organ.