Randy Kulesza

Randy Kulesza, Ph.D. is an Assistant Professor of Anatomy at the Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine (LECOM), where he has been a faculty member since 2002. He founded the Auditory Research Center at LECOM in 2004, establishing himself as a leading researcher in auditory neuroscience. His work bridges basic neuroanatomy with clinical applications, particularly in understanding how the brain processes sound and how these processes are affected in neurodevelopmental disorders.

Dr. Kulesza earned his BS in Biology from Gannon University, where he first developed his interest in teaching and research through work as a Teaching Assistant in Physiology and a Research Assistant studying cardiac muscle endocrine function. He pursued his Ph.D. in Anatomy & Neuroscience at West Virginia University, focusing on the structure and function of the mammalian auditory brainstem. His doctoral work laid the foundation for his ongoing research program.

Dr. Kulesza's research program centers on two primary aims: understanding the neural circuits used to map our auditory environment and code vocalizations, and characterizing structural and functional changes in auditory and vestibular circuits in autism spectrum disorder (ASD). His laboratory employs a multidisciplinary approach combining morphological, behavioral, and physiological techniques across animal models and human tissue studies. A key finding from his lab is the identification of a novel long-range axonal projection to the thalamus that likely plays an important role in coding complex sounds like speech. His work on ASD has demonstrated consistent brainstem hypoplasia in human subjects and structural/functional aberrations in animal models.

Analysis of Dr. Kulesza's publication record reveals a strong research trajectory focusing on auditory neuroscience with increasing emphasis on autism spectrum disorder. His work spans basic neuroanatomy of the auditory brainstem to translational studies examining how auditory processing deficits manifest in neurodevelopmental conditions. The publications demonstrate methodological diversity, incorporating techniques from quantitative morphometrics and immunohistochemistry to neurophysiological recordings and behavioral assessments.

Dr. Kulesza has mentored numerous students through his research program at the Auditory Research Center. His laboratory currently includes researchers working on multiple projects examining neural circuits in both typical development and animal models of autism. He has secured research funding to support investigations into how prenatal exposure to valproic acid affects auditory and vestibular development, and how these changes might be mitigated through environmental enrichment.

The Auditory Research Center under Dr. Kulesza's direction maintains active collaborations with researchers studying air pollution's neurological effects and other environmental factors affecting brain development. The lab continues to expand its work into new areas including the functional role of glycinergic inputs to the auditory thalamus and characterization of auditory alterations in genetic models of ASD.