Seiji B. Shibata

Seiji B. Shibata, MD, PhD is a Clinical Assistant Professor in the Department of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery at the Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California. Board-certified by both the American Academy of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery and the Oto-Rhino-Laryngological Society of Japan, he maintains active clinical practices in Los Angeles, Glendale, and La Cañada Flintridge while holding hospital affiliations at Keck Hospital of USC, USC Norris Cancer Hospital, and USC Verdugo Hills Hospital.

His clinical expertise spans chronic ear disease, otosclerosis, cochlear implantation (including robotic-assisted techniques), vestibular disorders, facial nerve disorders, and skull base tumors such as acoustic neuromas, meningiomas, and glomus tumors. As a physician-scientist, Dr. Shibata conducts pioneering research in inner ear biology and gene therapy for hearing restoration, with publications spanning molecular mechanisms of hearing loss, viral vector delivery systems, and translational applications for cochlear implants.

Analysis of his 15 most recent publications (2020-2025) reveals dominant research themes in gene therapy for hearing restoration (60% of articles), skull base tumor biology (20%), and surgical innovation (20%). His work consistently bridges molecular neuroscience with clinical otology, featuring frequent collaborations between USC, University of Michigan, and University of Iowa research teams.

• Board Certified Member, American Academy of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery
• Board Certified Member, Oto-Rhino-Laryngological Society of Japan

Dr. Shibata maintains active NIH-funded research in cochlear gene therapy while directing clinical trials for novel hearing restoration techniques. His laboratory at USC focuses on AAV-mediated transgene delivery and mutation-agnostic RNA interference approaches. Patient reviews highlight his technical expertise in complex ear surgery (4.7/5 rating from 159 patients), though some note communication challenges in high-volume clinical settings. He supervises translational research teams investigating hair cell regeneration and vestibular schwannoma therapeutics.