New Stem Cell Research May Cure Hearing Loss
Stem cell research continues to move forward amid the many protests and controversies it tends to spark. The latest development is good news for those who have experienced hearing loss. Scientists have discovered stem cells can be developed into the tiny hair cells within the ear which are needed for hearing sound.
The process has only been tested on mice thus far, but they are hopeful the same will be true with human cells. Dr. Kazuo Oshima of Stanford University in California and his team used two different types of stem cells in the experiment. Embryonic stem cells and pluripotent stem cells were taken from mice and coaxed into developing hair cells. The hair cells in the petri dishes had the same functions they would normally have within the an ear of a mouse.
The hope is to follow this same procedure in humans. The tiny hair cells would be transplanted into the human ear and potentially restoring a person’s hearing. Normally, humans have around 15,000 of these tiny hairs inside the inner ear. The hairs transmit sound vibrations along nerve pathways, which are then decoded by the brain.
Scientists hope they can begin the next phase of their research by using skin of those that have hearing loss. The skin contains stem cells, which would be coaxed into growing into the valuable hair cells for the ear. The hair cells would be grown from the recipient’s own stem cells, making it a perfect match. This technique will hopefully be possible within the next ten years. 
Funny. All these years we’ve been told that hearing takes place with vibrations of the ear drums and tiny bones in contact with it.
This is great news. Hopefully it applies to tinnitus as well! Years of DJing have taken their toll on my poor ears.
I want this NOW. I hereby volunteer for all and any testing that needs to be done.
This does not make clear as to what kind of stem cells are used. Are they embryonic stems cells or adult stem cells? Are the cells from destroyed human life as reduced to a commodity to be bought and sold, or donated stem cells from a human being who continues to live after willfully donating. There is a big difference. THAT is the only controversy on the subject of stem cells.
I’ve been reading this same retoric for years….Honestly, isn’t it about time we read some real news? Are there any clinical trials under way???? What are the test results, how reliable and repeatable are the findings. When will this treatment be available for the general public????? 5,10,15 years? Theory is nice but how a little empirical results.
respectfully submitted
Don
i’ve heard this sort of thing before,
i would absolutely love to see some of these treatments finish development and receive the fda approval they so desperately need
it would be music to my ears