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Development of a dynamic hypothermia protocol for hearing loss prevention

Award Number: R15DC023030
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: 05/01/2026
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 04/30/2029

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Development of a dynamic hypothermia protocol for hearing loss prevention - Project Summary/Abstract Noise-induced hearing loss is one of the most prevalent and irreversible forms of sensorineural hearing loss, affecting approximately 40 million American adults. It significantly reduces quality of life and is associated with cognitive decline, depression, and social isolation. While hearing aids and cochlear implants partially restore auditory function, they fail to replicate natural hearing and may introduce further auditory damage. Prevention remains a promising pathway to preserving auditory health, especially for individuals exposed to occupational or therapeutic risks, such as firefighters, military personnel, and chemotherapy patients. Among the various approaches studied for hearing preservation therapeutic hypothermia (MTH) has emerged as the most clinically translatable option. However, evidence suggests current mild therapeutic hypothermia devices deliver suboptimal spatial temperature distributions and lack the precision needed to uniformly cool critical cochlear structures. A transformative approach is used in this project to enhance mild therapeutic hypothermia for hearing loss prevention. Computational modeling, experimental validation, and device development will be integrated to design a new non-invasive cooling strategy that accounts for anatomical variability and vascular heat transfer. Specifically, a multiphysics model of the cochlea and surrounding vasculature will be constructed to evaluate how blood flow affects cooling dynamics during mild therapeutic hypothermia. Using insights from simulation and cadaveric studies, an advanced cooling device will be fabricated to deliver targeted, uniform hypothermia to the cochlear region. Rapid onset, spatial uniformity, and safety will be prioritized, minimizing adverse effects such as overcooling. Comparative analysis will be conducted against existing devices using ex vivo and in vitro methods to quantify efficacy in achieving desired thermal profiles. The results are expected to define the thermodynamic parameters and spatial targets essential for optimal hypothermic neuroprotection of the cochlea. In addition to technical advancements, the project will serve as a training platform for undergraduates and graduate students, offering interdisciplinary exposure to computational modeling, experimental bioengineering, and auditory neuroscience. By addressing key limitations of current mild therapeutic hypothermia systems, this work will lay the foundation for next-generation cooling devices with the potential to significantly reduce the incidence of noise-induced hearing loss. These contributions will support future clinical investigations and provide a reproducible research model for non-invasive auditory preservation techniques. The in-silico model developed here may also serve as a virtual microscope to explore and optimize emerging hearing preservation strategies.


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: 2026 ( Subtotal = $535,758 )
2026	2026	UNIVERSITY OF NORTH TEXAS	1112 DALLAS DR STE 4000	DENTON	TX	76205	DENTON	USA	Research Related to Deafness and Communication Disorders	000	1	5/1/2026	NEW	$535,758
														Subtotal = $535,758

Grand Total All Awards = $535,758

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Development of a dynamic hypothermia protocol for hearing loss prevention

Award Number: R15DC023030

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: 05/01/2026

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 04/30/2029

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