Botond Banfi

Dr. Botond Banfi is an Associate Professor with triple appointments in Anatomy and Cell Biology, Internal Medicine, and Otolaryngology at the University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine. His research focuses on understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying hearing disorders and cystic fibrosis lung disease.

Dr. Banfi received his MD in Medicine from Semmelweis University Medical School in Budapest, Hungary, followed by a PhD in Physiology from the same institution. He completed a Fellowship in Geriatrics at the University Hospitals of Geneva in Geneva, Switzerland.

Dr. Banfi's laboratory investigates the hereditary causes of hearing and balance disorders, with a particular focus on gene discovery approaches to prevent hearing loss in mouse models of human deafness. His team studies transcription factors that could potentially be used to overcome gene regulatory barriers to hair cell regeneration, as well as tissue-specifically expressed splicing factors that alter mRNA composition. Given the similarities between hair cells and neurons, his research also extends into neuroscience. Additionally, his lab explores cystic fibrosis lung disease mechanisms.

Analysis of Dr. Banfi's recent publications reveals a strong focus on the molecular mechanisms of hearing loss, particularly through the lens of alternative splicing and gene regulation. His work often employs mouse models to understand human deafness conditions, with significant contributions to understanding how splicing factors like Srrm4 and REST regulation affect hearing. There is also a consistent thread of research on NADPH oxidases across multiple physiological systems.

Dr. Banfi serves as a faculty member in multiple graduate programs, including Biomedical Science (Cell and Developmental Biology), Biomedical Science (Molecular Medicine), and the Medical Scientist Training Program. He is affiliated with the Inflammation Program at the University of Iowa.