Sunday, September 14, 2025 9/14/2025

Novel mechanism for sex differences in hearing loss

Award Number: R01DC020209
ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE ON DEAFNESS AND OTHER COMMUNICATION DISORDERS
OPDIV: NIH
AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY
AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: SCIENTIFIC/HEALTH RESEARCH (INCLUDES SURVEYS)
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 04/01/2023
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 03/31/2028

Group Awards By:

View Award Description

Novel mechanism for sex differences in hearing loss - Project Summary / Abstract There is growing awareness of the importance of sex differences in auditory function and disorders. Large-scale clinical studies have revealed a strong sex bias in hearing loss prevalence. While females have a lower overall prevalence of hearing loss, 8.3 million women have hearing impairment, and 1.67 million begin experiencing hearing loss during their middle age. Hearing loss in females worsens after menopause. Moreover, female hearing levels are more variable, suggesting disease conditions that affect subpopulations of females, increasing their vulnerability to certain otologic disorders. Autoimmune disorders preferentially affect women, leading to a higher prevalence of immune-related hearing impairment. Female-related hearing loss typically begins around the middle age and affects the low- and mid-frequencies essential for perceiving speech. At present, the underlying mechanisms for female hearing loss are poorly understood. The lack of understanding has prevented the development of diagnostic tools to determine the underlying causes of sex-dependent susceptibility to hearing loss. We recently identified a lectin family protein, galectin-3, in the cochlea. This β-galactoside-binding protein has been involved in various biological processes, including immune functions. It also has a vital role in inflammatory disorders. Our pilot observations have shown that galectin-3 is highly expressed in cochlear immune cells and supporting cells, both being immune-competent cells. This protein participates in cochlear inflammatory responses to age-related and noise-induced hearing loss. Our analysis revealed that targeted disruption of galectin-3-coding gene, Lgals3, increases female susceptibility to age-related cochlear degeneration. Identification of galectin-3 as an important sex-relevant immune molecule provides us with a powerful tool to investigate the role of immune-mediated activities in female auditory dysfunction. The long-term goal of our research is to determine the molecular mechanisms underlying sex differences in otologic disorders. The proposed research aims to use galectin-3 as a gateway to identify female-linked molecules and determine how these molecules interact with female hormones to affect female cochlear homeostasis and susceptibility to hearing disorders. Specifically, we will 1) determine the role of galectin-3 in maintaining auditory function and cochlear integrity, 2) determine immune mechanisms underlying the female susceptibility to galectin-3 deficiency, and 3) determine female hormonal regulation of cochlear gene expression. Our proposed study will address a clinically relevant but still understudied research topic, female hearing loss. Identifying molecules critical to female hearing has great potential for clinical translation. The knowledge gained from the proposed studies can guide future efforts to identify female essential molecules in human ears, which will aid in identifying clinically applicable biomarkers for revealing the underlying causes of female hearing loss. Ultimately, studying the biological basis of sex differences will provide the foundation for developing sex-dependent therapies for hearing loss.


Issue Date FY	Funding FY	Legal Entity Name	Legal Entity Address	Legal Entity City	Legal Entity State	Legal Entity Zip Code	Legal Entity COUNTY	Legal Entity COUNTRY	Assistance Listing	Award Code	Budget Year	Action Date	Action Type	Action Amount

Issue Date FY: 2025 ( Subtotal = $387,139 )
2025	2025	UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT DALLAS	800 WEST CAMPBELL RD.	RICHARDSON	TX	75080	DALLAS	USA	Research Related to Deafness and Communication Disorders	004	4	8/12/2025	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$390,000
2025	2024	UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT DALLAS	800 WEST CAMPBELL RD.	RICHARDSON	TX	75080	DALLAS	USA	Research Related to Deafness and Communication Disorders	001	3	3/14/2025	CHANGE OF GRANTEE / TRAINING INSTITUTION / AWARDING INSTITUTION	$217,062
2025	2024	THE RESEARCH FOUNDATION FOR THE STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK	520 LEE ENTRANCE STE 211	AMHERST	NY	14228	ERIE	USA	Research Related to Deafness and Communication Disorders	000	2	3/14/2025	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	-$219,923
2025	2024	UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT DALLAS	800 WEST CAMPBELL RD.	RICHARDSON	TX	75080	DALLAS	USA	Research Related to Deafness and Communication Disorders	003	3	4/22/2025	CHANGE OF GRANTEE / TRAINING INSTITUTION / AWARDING INSTITUTION	$3,991
2025	2024	THE RESEARCH FOUNDATION FOR THE STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK	520 LEE ENTRANCE STE 211	AMHERST	NY	14228	ERIE	USA	Research Related to Deafness and Communication Disorders	002	2	4/22/2025	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	-$3,991
														Subtotal = $387,139

Issue Date FY: 2024 ( Subtotal = $401,250 )
2024	2024	RESEARCH FOUNDATION FOR THE STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK, THE	520 LEE ENTRANCE STE 211	AMHERST	NY	14228	ERIE	USA	Research Related to Deafness and Communication Disorders	000	2	3/28/2024	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$401,250
														Subtotal = $401,250

Issue Date FY: 2023 ( Subtotal = $398,225 )
2023	2023	RESEARCH FOUNDATION FOR THE STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK, THE	520 LEE ENTRANCE STE 211	AMHERST	NY	14228	ERIE	USA	Research Related to Deafness and Communication Disorders	000	1	3/13/2023	NEW	$398,225
														Subtotal = $398,225

Grand Total All Awards = $1,186,614

Top

All Categories

About

Search

Reports

Data Submission

Award Information

Novel mechanism for sex differences in hearing loss

Award Number: R01DC020209

ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE ON DEAFNESS AND OTHER COMMUNICATION DISORDERS

OPDIV: NIH

AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY

AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: SCIENTIFIC/HEALTH RESEARCH (INCLUDES SURVEYS)

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 04/01/2023

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 03/31/2028

Federal Websites

Department of Health & Human Services

HHS Operating Divisions

HHS Staff Divisions

Download A Document Viewer