Midwest Auditory Research Conference brings hearing experts to NEOMED

Nearly 200 individuals gathered at Northeast Ohio Medical University for the Midwest Auditory Research Conference (MARC) for three days of sharing knowledge, networking and presentations on the most cutting-edge research on hearing health.

The MARC, held for the first time at NEOMED and just the 10th time overall, took place June 19-21, 2025, with the overarching goal of fostering a high level of interaction among students, postdoctoral fellows, clinicians and faculty scientists. The goal was clearly met as attendees excitedly interacted with one another following each presentation, including eight keynote speeches from renowned hearing researchers from Harvard, New York University and the University of Texas.

The MARC was the result of nearly two years of meticulous planning by NEOMED’s Hearing Research Group, which is celebrating 20 years since its formation in 2005.

The MARC provided travel awards and kept attendance costs low for auditory research trainees from around the Midwest.

“As we hoped, this MARC generated ideas for future work and collaborations amongst NEOMED’s researchers and those around the country,” said Merri Rosen, Ph.D., director of the Hearing Research Group. “But perhaps more importantly, it was inspiring to watch Ph.D. and postdoctoral trainees learn from leaders in the field and begin to build relationships among themselves. It was like watching the future of auditory neuroscience research emerge.”

Among the highlights of the MARC included presentations by Charles Liberman, Ph.D., of Harvard University, who shared his work on the neural consequences and potential therapies associated with exposure to loud sounds. Chris Cunningham, Ph.D., of the University of Pittsburgh also captivated the audience during his presentation, describing striking research findings that show greatly improved precision in gene therapy to cure deafness.

Dr. Rosen moderated a Career Paths Narratives panel and Q-and-A session, aimed especially at the many students and young researchers in the audience. Jeffrey Wenstrup, Ph.D., professor of biomedical sciences and co-organizer of the event, moderated a separate panel on translational research that focused on sharing methods of how scientific discovery can lead to practical solutions in healthcare.

“We appreciate the sponsorship we received from the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communications Disorders, University Hospitals and Turner Scientific for helping make the conference a complete success,” said Dr. Wenstrup. “The MARC was the product of the dedication of the Hearing Research Group, who have shown great commitment to bring this conference to NEOMED.”