September 21, 2008. The Age, Australia - September 22, 2008.
Stem cell find may replace bionic ear. By Nick Miller THE bionic ear is one of Australia's proudest achievements, but a Melbourne researcher's work could take the fight against deafness to a new level. Bryony Coleman, at the Eye and Ear Hospital, is conducting world-first research into the potential of stem cells to regrow the nerves that connect the ear to the brain. If successful, the technique could be used to improve the quality of hearing in people with cochlear implants - and one day it may even help restore hearing to those who are totally deaf. "Fifty years down the track this might be one of many techniques - we might not even need a cochlear implant," Dr Coleman said. When a rock concert, pneumatic drill or blaring iPod destroys some of the tiny, vibrating hairs in the inner ear, the damage does not stop there. Each hair cell's destruction leads to the death of up to 10 nerves that carry sound information into the brain. The bionic ear (cochlear implant) can replace some of the work of the hair - but it cannot regrow the nerves. Enter the stem cell: "precursor" cells that can grow into replacement nerve cells. "The theory is that the bigger and healthier the nerves, the better the cochlear implant will work," Dr Coleman said. "We are using stem cells to make that bigger and healthier." Of course, it is more complicated than sticking a bunch of cells in your ear. Dr Coleman has to make the cells grow in the right place, to connect the hair cell to the brain. "We have transplanted stem cells into the (inner ear) and they survive, but we need to know if they work," she said. Last month scientists announced that, for the first time, they had used gene therapy to regrow the delicate hair cells of the inner ear - in mice. Dr Coleman said her work could supplement that breakthrough. The Age [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Deaf-Blind Inspirational Life Group" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/DBILG?hl=en -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
