Inner Ear Function Professors and Supervisors

Patricia A. LoomisView profile

Assistant Professor

Franklin UniversityUnited States

Dr. Patricia A. Loomis is a Research Assistant Professor in the Department of Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology at Rosalind Franklin University's Chicago Medical School and School of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies. She also serves as Director of the Confocal Microscopy Laboratory and Co-director of the Live Cell Imaging Facility, providing critical research infrastructure for cellular imaging studies. Dr. Loomis's research focuses on the molecular mechanisms controlling auditory hair cell stereocilia assembly and maintenance, with particular emphasis on the Espin family of proteins. Her work investigates how alternative splicing of Espin pre-mRNA regulates isoform selection and how these isoforms affect actin cytoskeletal organization in the inner ear. She employs both mouse and zebrafish model systems to study these processes. Analysis of Dr. Loomis's publication record from 1990-2007 reveals a consistent research trajectory focused on cytoskeletal proteins, particularly in neuronal and sensory cells. Her early work examined neurofilaments and tau proteins, while her more recent research has centered on Espin proteins and their role in hearing. Her publications span high-impact journals in cell biology, neuroscience, and molecular biology. Dr. Loomis has made significant contributions to understanding how Espin proteins function as multifunctional actin cytoskeletal regulatory proteins, with implications for deafness and vestibular dysfunction. Her research provides foundational knowledge for potential gene therapy applications in hearing restoration. As Director of the Confocal Microscopy Laboratory and Co-director of the Live Cell Imaging Facility, Dr. Loomis supports a wide range of research activities at Rosalind Franklin University, providing expertise in advanced cellular imaging techniques that are essential for modern cell biological investigations.

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Lionel CavinView profile

Professor

University of GenevaSwitzerland

Lionel Cavin is a Full Professor in Genetics & Evolution at the University of Geneva, affiliated with the MuseumLab research team based at the Natural History Museum of Geneva (MHNG). His research focuses on the evolutionary histories of bony fishes, particularly coelacanths and actinopterygians from the Mesozoic Era. His research aims to decipher patterns and processes characterizing the evolution of bony fishes, which comprise three clades representing more than half of vertebrate diversity. He studies several aspects of the evolutionary history of ray-finned fishes (Actinopterygii), lungfishes (Dipnoi), and coelacanths (Actinistia) by analyzing their anatomy, phylogeny, diversity dynamics over time, and paleogeographic and paleoecological history. His work focuses on the Mesozoic Era (252-66 million years ago) with synthetic approaches, testing these perspectives using case studies based on fossil assemblages mainly from Western Europe, North Africa, the Near East, and Southeast Asia. Cavin's research relies on fine anatomical reconstructions based on direct observations, micro-CT, and synchrotron imaging. His main current research interests include coelacanths, which display remarkable anatomical features and evolutionary traits, such as an unexpected hearing function based on a lung-inner ear connection in some fossil forms, and exceptionally long morphological stases observed in lineages during the Cretaceous. His publication record shows consistent high-impact research output across multiple disciplines including paleontology, evolutionary biology, and ichthyology, with a particular emphasis on understanding evolutionary patterns in "living fossil" lineages like coelacanths. His work demonstrates how detailed fossil analyses can reveal unexpected bursts of morphological disparity even in lineages traditionally considered to evolve slowly. Among his notable scientific contributions is research demonstrating that coelacanths, despite being considered "living fossils" due to their slow morphological evolution, experienced an early Mesozoic burst of morphological disparity following the Permian-Triassic mass extinction. Cavin has been actively involved in numerous international collaborations, working with researchers across Europe, Africa, Asia, and South America to understand the global distribution and evolutionary history of ancient fish lineages. His work on the biogeography of mawsoniid coelacanths has demonstrated how wide geographic distribution may contribute to the resilience of certain lineages to extinction events.

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Per Cayé-ThomasenView profile

Clinical Professor

University of CopenhagenDenmark

Per Cayé-Thomasen serves as a Clinical Professor in the Department of Clinical Medicine at the University of Copenhagen's Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, specializing in Otorhinolaryngology. His clinical and research activities are centered at Blegdamsvej 9 in Copenhagen Ø, with additional facilities at Blegdamsvej 3 in Copenhagen N. His research focuses on complex inner ear pathologies, particularly intralabyrinthine schwannomas, vestibular disorders, and hearing loss mechanisms. Key areas include cochlear implantation outcomes, superior canal dehiscence surgery, neuroinfection-related hearing complications, and pediatric inner ear malformations. His work bridges clinical practice with translational research, emphasizing objective audiovestibular measurements and patient-centered outcomes. Analysis of his 139 research outputs shows consistent contributions to neurotology, with recent publications (2023-2024) demonstrating expertise in diagnostic imaging, surgical interventions, and rare hearing disorders. His collaborative network spans international institutions, particularly in studies involving vestibular schwannomas and enlarged vestibular aqueduct syndromes. Cayé-Thomasen actively contributes to high-impact journals including Otology and Neurotology , Ear & Hearing , and Annals of Medicine , with multiple open-access publications receiving significant attention on academic platforms like Mendeley.

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Laurence TrussellView profile

Professor

Oregon Health & Science UniversityUnited States

Laurence Trussell is a Professor and Interim Director of the Oregon Hearing Research Center at Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU), with concurrent appointment as a Scientist at the Vollum Institute. His research focuses on neural mechanisms of hearing, particularly brainstem circuitry and synaptic physiology in auditory processing. Education: Ph.D. in Biology, University of California, Los Angeles (1983) Research Interests: Dr. Trussell investigates how brainstem circuits encode acoustic signals and how synaptic physiology preserves auditory information. His seminal work demonstrates that timing-encoding neurons are molecularly specialized, reveals synaptic learning mechanisms at early sensory stages, and elucidates co-release of transmitters acting on single receptors. His research integrates molecular, biophysical, and circuit-level approaches to dissect auditory processing. Publication Trends: His 2013-2025 publications consistently explore dorsal cochlear nucleus physiology, emphasizing synaptic transmission mechanisms ( e.g. , glutamate dynamics, KCNQ channels), neural oscillations, electrical coupling, and cell-type-specific circuitry. Key themes include calcium channel nanodomains, inhibitory neuron subtypes, and multimodal integration, reflecting his focus on fundamental mechanisms of auditory signal processing from cellular to circuit levels. Advising and Grants: Publicly available information does not specify doctoral advisees or grant funding details, though his leadership of major research centers implies significant mentorship and extramural support. Labs and Teams: He directs research at the Oregon Hearing Research Center and Vollum Institute, leading teams studying auditory pathways through electrophysiology, imaging, and molecular techniques to decode hearing mechanisms and disorders.

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Klaus QvortrupView profile

Professor

University of CopenhagenDenmark

Klaus Qvortrup serves as a Professor within the Department of Biomedical Sciences at the University of Copenhagen's Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences. His primary research focuses on Advanced Light and Electron Microscopy with significant contributions to understanding Meniere's Disease and inner ear ultrastructure. His institutional affiliation includes the Center for Free-Electron Laser Research (CFIM) as indicated by his institutional website. Professor Qvortrup's research interests span multiple disciplines including Anatomy, Histology, Macroscopy, and the Ultrastructure and Function of the Inner Ear. His laboratory specializes in advanced microscopy techniques applied to diverse biological systems ranging from neurological structures to biofilm formation on medical devices. His work bridges fundamental microscopic analysis with clinical applications, particularly in otology and medical device biocompatibility. Analysis of his recent publications reveals a strong emphasis on biofilm research (40% of recent work), inner ear pathology (25%), and advanced microscopy methodology development (35%). His studies frequently employ correlative light and electron microscopy approaches to investigate complex biological structures at unprecedented resolution. The research demonstrates consistent collaboration with both clinical departments and engineering teams. Professor Qvortrup maintains active research collaborations across multiple disciplines as evidenced by his extensive publication record of over 150 research outputs. His work has garnered attention from 13 news outlets and been discussed across various social media platforms including X (formerly Twitter) and Bluesky. His laboratory utilizes state-of-the-art microscopy facilities at the University of Copenhagen, particularly focusing on three-dimensional ultrastructural analysis. Current research directions include investigating Meniere's Disease mechanisms, biofilm formation on medical implants, and nanoparticle-tissue interactions. The lab maintains strong connections with clinical departments through translational research projects.

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