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Human Ear Cellular Atlas

Award Number: U24DC020857
ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE ON DEAFNESS AND OTHER COMMUNICATION DISORDERS
OPDIV: NIH
AWARD CLASS: COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT
AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: SCIENTIFIC/HEALTH RESEARCH (INCLUDES SURVEYS)
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 09/16/2022
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 07/31/2027

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Human Ear Cellular Atlas - Abstract: Hearing and balance disorders disable nearly half a billion people worldwide, yet there are virtually no pharmacological or biological therapies for these disorders. This alarming state of medicine coexist with the brighter state of science where numerous therapeutic approaches have shown efficacy in animal models. This conundrum reflects the fact that there are important differences between animal models and humans, that we have an incomplete understanding of the molecular signatures of the auditory and vestibular organs in the human inner ear, and that adult human inner ear tissues are not readily available to test promising therapeutics. We propose to solve this conundrum by defining the molecular makeup of normal, live human inner ear tissues (Aim 1), describing the three-dimensional (3D) cellular architecture of unprocessed human inner ears (Aim 2), training new and established investigators (Aim 3), and enhancing awareness of human inner ear research (Aim 4). In support of this approach, we have designed a surgical method to procure live inner ear tissues from deceased organ donors who typically have normal auditory and vestibular function. We have begun assembling a registry consisting of medical records, single-cell transcriptomes, and histologic sections of vestibular tissues (utricles). In parallel, we have augmented the registry with utricles from vestibular schwannoma patients undergoing surgical resection. Here, we propose to increase the recruitment of organ donors and vestibular schwannoma patients and expand our registry to include all inner ear sensory organs and generate a molecular cell atlas of the adult human inner ear (Aim 1). Additional tissues and perilymph will be collected, analyzed and shared with the broader scientific community for gene and protein validation. Furthermore, we will use a miniature, flexible imaging probe we developed to perform micro-optical coherence tomography (µOCT)-based endomicroscopy on rapid autopsy cadavers to generate an optical cell atlas of the 3D-intact, unprocessed human inner ear (Aim 2). A second registry will be assembled, consisting of digitized µOCT-histology images analyzed with the aid of both linear regression and artificial intelligence tools. Thirdly, we will train clinicians, clinician- scientists, and researchers on the techniques of procuring and imaging human inner ear tissues through hands- on training, simulated surgery, and didactic workshops (Aim 3). Lastly, we will raise awareness of studying human inner ear tissues through outreach activities, publicizing our resources, data sharing, and collaborations (Aim 4). Upon completion of this 5-year program, we will have assembled and shared a molecular and optical cell atlas of the human inner ear and increased awareness and utilization of this resource by the scientific community.


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 = $595,066 )
2026	2026	THE LELAND STANFORD JUNIOR UNIVERSITY	450 JANE STANFORD WAY	STANFORD	CA	94305	SANTA CLARA	USA	Research Related to Deafness and Communication Disorders	001	5	7/31/2026	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$595,066
2026	2025	THE LELAND STANFORD JUNIOR UNIVERSITY	450 JANE STANFORD WAY	STANFORD	CA	94305	SANTA CLARA	USA	Research Related to Deafness and Communication Disorders	000	4	1/14/2026	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$0
														Subtotal = $595,066

Issue Date FY: 2025 ( Subtotal = $596,638 )
2025	2025	THE LELAND STANFORD JUNIOR UNIVERSITY	450 JANE STANFORD WAY	STANFORD	CA	94305	SANTA CLARA	USA	Research Related to Deafness and Communication Disorders	001	4	8/29/2025	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$596,638
2025	2024	THE LELAND STANFORD JUNIOR UNIVERSITY	450 JANE STANFORD WAY	STANFORD	CA	94305	SANTA CLARA	USA	Research Related to Deafness and Communication Disorders	000	3	6/13/2025	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$0
														Subtotal = $596,638

Issue Date FY: 2024 ( Subtotal = $984,208 )
2024	2024	THE LELAND STANFORD JUNIOR UNIVERSITY	450 JANE STANFORD WAY	STANFORD	CA	94305	SANTA CLARA	USA	Research Related to Deafness and Communication Disorders	001	3	8/9/2024	SUPPLEMENT FOR EXPANSION	$386,000
2024	2024	THE LELAND STANFORD JUNIOR UNIVERSITY	450 JANE STANFORD WAY	STANFORD	CA	94305	SANTA CLARA	USA	Research Related to Deafness and Communication Disorders	000	3	8/1/2024	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$598,208
														Subtotal = $984,208

Issue Date FY: 2023 ( Subtotal = $599,780 )
2023	2023	THE LELAND STANFORD JUNIOR UNIVERSITY	450 JANE STANFORD WAY	STANFORD	CA	94305	SANTA CLARA	USA	Research Related to Deafness and Communication Disorders	001	2	8/5/2023	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$599,780
2023	2023	THE LELAND STANFORD JUNIOR UNIVERSITY	450 JANE STANFORD WAY	STANFORD	CA	94305	SANTA CLARA	USA	Research Related to Deafness and Communication Disorders	002	2	8/10/2023	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$0
2023	2022	LELAND STANFORD JUNIOR UNIVERSITY, THE	450 JANE STANFORD WAY	STANFORD	CA	94305	SANTA CLARA	USA	Research Related to Deafness and Communication Disorders	000	1	11/3/2022	NEW	$0
														Subtotal = $599,780

Issue Date FY: 2022 ( Subtotal = $803,331 )
2022	2022	LELAND STANFORD JUNIOR UNIVERSITY, THE	450 JANE STANFORD WAY	STANFORD	CA	94305	SANTA CLARA	USA	Research Related to Deafness and Communication Disorders	000	1	9/16/2022	NEW	$803,331
														Subtotal = $803,331

Grand Total All Awards = $3,579,023

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Human Ear Cellular Atlas

Award Number: U24DC020857

ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE ON DEAFNESS AND OTHER COMMUNICATION DISORDERS

OPDIV: NIH

AWARD CLASS: COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT

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

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 09/16/2022

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 07/31/2027

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