About this Research Topic
With an aging population and increased exposure to excessive noise, there has never been a higher demand for understanding the underlying mechanisms of SNHL and how the cochlea can protect itself to prevent further hearing loss and restore function. In addition, each year, more individuals, and families are identified as having a genetic mutation linked to SNHL. Considerable progress has been made in understanding hearing loss in recent years, and this Research Topic will highlight this progress. We hope to advance the understanding of the causes and mechanisms of hearing loss and propose novel molecular and cellular strategies to protect and restore hearing, including targeted gene- and cell-based therapies, regenerative medicine using small molecules to target progenitor cells and novel biomaterials to deliver drugs and gene therapies to the cochlea.
We invite investigators to contribute original research articles and review articles addressing the mechanisms of SNHL caused by genetic mutations, excessive noise, age, or ototoxic drugs. Of particular interest are articles proposing novel strategies for cochlear rescue from injury or biological restoration of hearing. Potential topics include, but are not limited to:
• Molecular and cellular mechanisms of SNHL
• Age-related and noise-induced hearing loss
• Ototoxicity
• Cochlear neuropathy and synaptopathy
• Genetic causes of hearing loss
• Biomarkers of hearing loss
• Molecular and cellular approaches to cochlear protection
• Cell-, drug-, and gene-based therapies to restore hearing
Keywords: Age-related hearing loss, Noise-induced hearing loss, Ototoxicity Cochlear neuropathy, Hereditary hearing loss, Biomarkers of cochlear injury and hearing loss, Hair cell regeneration
Important Note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.