Larry Hoffman

Larry Hoffman serves as an Adjunct Professor in the Department of Surgery at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), where he leads the Vestibular Neuroscience Laboratory. He holds affiliated memberships with UCLA's Head and Neck Surgery division, Brain Research Institute, and Neuroengineering Training Program. His research is supported by the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD) through the National Multipurpose Research and Training Center for vestibular neuroscience.

Dr. Hoffman's research program investigates vestibular neuroscience with three primary focuses: (1) Neurophysiologic and neuroanatomic organization of vestibular primary afferent neurons bridging peripheral receptors and the CNS; (2) Pathophysiology in contexts of nerve regeneration, ototoxicity, and sensory epithelium regeneration; and (3) Anatomy and cell biology of efferent vestibular neurons. His work employs diverse methodologies including neurophysiological recordings, genetic models, drug delivery systems, and computational approaches.

Analysis of his 15 most recent publications (2017-2024) reveals consistent themes across vestibular neuroscience: computational modeling of neural encoding, therapeutic interventions for ototoxicity (especially N-acetylcysteine delivery), vestibular adaptations to extreme environments (spaceflight), genetic contributions to hearing disorders, and detailed characterization of vestibular cellular mechanisms. These studies frequently utilize rodent models, in vitro systems, and interdisciplinary collaborations.

Dr. Hoffman maintains an active training role, supervising research projects for undergraduate, graduate, medical, postdoctoral, and resident students. He coordinates the Division’s Basic Science curriculum and co-administers the NIDCD institutional training grant. His Vestibular Neuroscience Laboratory continues to investigate fundamental questions about vestibular signal processing and therapeutic strategies for vestibular disorders.