BBSRC White Rose DTP Studentship - Understanding the mechanisms leading to age-related hearing loss

Age-related hearing loss (ARHL) is the most common sensory deficit and one of the most prevalent chronic medical conditions in humans. Approximately 14.5M people in the UK (500M worldwide) will be affected by ARHL by 2030. When ARHL is left untreated, people become socially isolated and develop depression. The major obstacle preventing the development of treatments for ARHL is a lack of understanding of the mechanisms causing it.

Changes in the biochemistry and energy production (mitochondria) of cells are at the base of several age-related diseases. Our hypothesis, which derives from preliminary data, is that progressive accumulation of transcription-associated DNA breaks in hair cells contributes to the development of ARHL. Therefore, the aim of this PhD project is to identify key mechanisms leading to age-related changes in DNA repair and mitochondrial function in the auditory mechanosensory receptors, called hair cells.

This PhD project will require the student to perform state-of-the-art techniques such as in vivo physiology, 2-photon imaging, immunolabeling and biochemistry. These experimental approaches, combined with large data analysis, will allows the student to measure functional and molecular changes in ageing hair cells. The student will be supported by two world-leading PIs in auditory physiology (Marcotti) and DNA damage (El-Khamisy).

Key words: DNA damage, Mitocondria, Mechanoelectrical transduction, Hair cells, Auditory, Age-related hearing Loss