Identification of biochemical changes linked to age-related hearing loss and their association with neurological disorders

Age-related hearing loss (ARHL), which causes the progressive loss of hearing sensitivity, is the most common sensory deficit in elderly. It is expected that approximately 14.5 million people in the UK (500 million in the world) will be affected by ARHL by 2030. When ARHL is left untreated it leads to social isolation and depression. Moreover, there is growing evidence for links between ARHL, cognitive decline and increased risk of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. However, it is currently not known whether ARHL exacerbates cognitive decline or that they share the same molecular mechanisms during aging.

Any aging process encompasses several physiological changes such as changes in energy production (mitochondria) and biochemical changes. The aim of this PhD project is to identify crucial mechanisms leading to ARHL by investigating mitochondrial function, DNA damage and Ca2+ homeostasis in the auditory organ during aging. Our overarching hypothesis is that progressive accumulation of transcription-blocking DNA breaks play a key role in the development of ARHL.

Addressing the above project will require the student to perform state-of-the-art techniques in neuroscience, such as immunolabeling and confocal imaging, biochemistry, electrophysiology, and somatic cell reprogramming and neuronal differentiation. The student will greatly benefit from the direct support of three world-leading PIs in their respective field of research (Marcotti: auditory physiology; El-Khamisy: DNA damage; Ferraiuolo: neurodegenerative disorders), and from the several postdocs and PhD students currently present in the two research groups.

Entry Requirements
Candidates must have a first or upper second class honors degree or significant research experience.

Enquiries
Interested candidates should in the first instance contact (Prof Walter Marcotti: [Email Address Removed]; Prof Sherif El-Khamisy: [Email Address Removed]; Dr Laura Ferraiuolo: [Email Address Removed])

How to apply
Please complete a University Postgraduate Research Application form available here: www.shef.ac.uk/postgraduate/research/apply

Please clearly state the prospective main supervisor in the respective box and select (department name) as the department.