UH–NEOMED Hearing Research Symposium: Advancing Collaboration

by Erica Dovin

The UH–NEOMED Hearing Research Center hosted a collaborative Hearing Research Symposium on May 20 at the MidTown Collaboration Center, bringing together researchers, clinicians and trainees from both institutions. The half-day event featured a series of brief research presentations spanning basic, translational and clinical hearing science, along with updates on new funding opportunities under the UH–NEOMED agreement.

The symposium was designed to foster collaboration and strengthen research partnerships across UH and NEOMED. Goals of the event included providing attendees with information about the new agreement and related funding opportunities, highlighting ongoing collaborative work, sharing updates on four active projects, introducing research from a new faculty member, and increasing awareness of existing resources and data sources available through UH. A networking session also encouraged participants to generate specific ideas for future collaborative projects.

Presentations highlighted ongoing work in areas such as gene expression related to hearing loss, synaptic reconstruction in the auditory midbrain, long-term outcomes for children with chronic middle ear infections, and neural engineering approaches to sound localization. The program also included updates on clinical data initiatives and cochlear implant registry efforts, underscoring the breadth of collaborative work across UH and NEOMED.

The symposium concluded with a networking dinner that provided attendees with opportunities to connect, exchange ideas, and discuss potential areas for future collaboration. The event reflected the growing partnership between UH and NEOMED and reinforced a shared commitment to advancing hearing research and improving patient outcomes.