Much of our work has benefited from collaborations with other laboratories. We interact extensively with labs in the NEOMED Hearing Research Focus Group. Our current collaborators are listed below.
Roberts Lab
Michael T. Roberts, Ph.D.
University of Michigan, Kresge Hearing Research Institute
The Roberts lab uses electrophysiology and optogenetics to study the microcircuitry of the inferior colliculus. Their recent work has focused on characterizing novel subtypes of inferior collicular neurons. In the publication at right, they characterize inferior collicular neurons that express vasoactive intestinal peptide.
Right: Image from Goyer et al. (2019) A novel class of inferior colliculus principal neurons labeled in vasoactive intestinal peptide-Cre mice. Elife 2019;8:e43770.
Mellott Lab
Jeffrey G. Mellott, Ph.D.
Northeast Ohio Medical University, Hearing Research Focus Group
The Mellott lab studies age-related changes to auditory circuitry that occur before age-related hearing loss is detected. Their current work focuses on changes in GABA receptors and perineuronal nets in the aging inferior colliculus. In the publication at right, Dr. Mellott demonstrated that neurons in the inferior colliculus can send branching projections to both sides of the auditory thalamus.
Right: Image from Mellott, et al. (2019) Bilateral projections to the thalamus from individual neurons in the inferior colliculus. J Comp Neurol 527:1118
Galazyuk Lab
Alexander V. Galazyuk, Ph.D.
Northeast Ohio Medical University, Hearing Research Focus Group
The Galazyuk lab studies the neural mechanisms underlying tinnitus, as well as potential tinnitus therapies. Some of their recent work has focused on the involvement of metabotropic glutamate receptors in normal hearing and in hearing loss that may or may not be accompanied by tinnitus. The Galazyuk lab tested auditory brainstem responses to help characterize a novel mouse line in the publication at right.
Right: Image from Beebe, et al. (2020) Generation of a ChATCre mouse line without the early onset hearing loss typical of the C57BL/6J strain. Hear Res 388:107896.
Burger Lab
R. Michael Burger, Ph.D.
Lehigh University
The Burger lab studies the ways in which neurons in the auditory brainstem respond to sounds. Their current work focuses on how sound localization nuclei respond to acetylcholine, as well as on the development of the ear, and early interventions for cochlear implant users. The photos on the right demonstrate a newly described pathway between the cholinergic pontomesencephalic tegmentum and the medial nucleus of the trapezoid body, a nucleus important in localizing sounds.
Right: Image from Zhang et al. (2021) Endogenous cholinergic signaling modulates sound-evoked responses of the medial nucleus of the trapezoid body. J Neurosci 41:674.
We also currently have collaborations with the Wenstrup Lab at NEOMED (studying the cholinergic modulation of the amygdala) and the Bao Lab at Gateway Biotechnology (studying links between hyperactivity in the auditory system and tinnitus).
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The Schofield Lab 