معرفی
Professor Karen Steel is a Professor of Sensory Function at King’s College London, affiliated with the School of Neuroscience and the Department of Genetics within the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience. Her research focuses on the genetics of deafness, particularly using mouse models to uncover molecular pathways underlying age-related hearing loss. She leads the Academic Head of Biological Services role and has received prestigious awards, including the Brain Prize (2012) and Fellowship in the Royal Society. Her work bridges basic science and clinical applications, aiming to identify therapeutic targets for hearing loss reversal.
Key research interests include genetic mechanisms of hearing impairment, drug development for hearing loss, and translational studies in mouse models. Collaborators include leading institutions globally, such as the Medical University of South Carolina and the University of Sheffield. Notable achievements include reversing hearing loss in mice via gene activation and identifying critical genes like SPNS2 and WBP2.
Recent projects include investigations into synaptic damage reversal, genome-wide knockout screens, and the role of microRNAs in auditory function. Her work contributes to Sustainable Development Goals related to health and well-being. Funding sources include Wellcome Trust, Action on Hearing Loss, and NIH.
