Hearing Therapeutics

Developing Next-Generation Hearing Therapeutics

Our Hearing Therapeutics research focuses on developing drug and gene-based treatments that address the underlying causes of hearing loss and middle ear disease.

Current Research Projects

Known as The Aussie Ear Bank, we established Australia’s first Hearing Registry and Biobank to drive transformative research.

By combining advances in gene and regenerative medicine with clinical expertise, we are working to repair and restore inner ear function. This integrated approach enables us to translate scientific discovery into targeted therapies that have the potential to transform patient outcomes.

This national initative collects and stores critical data and biological samples from patients to better understand the mechanisms of hearing loss, and to build a platform for developing genetic therapies.

The long-term vision is clear; to develop and deliver targeted genetic therapies capable of preventing or reversing hearing loss in both children and adults.

This gene-based therapeutics research aims to explore two main lines of research. The first is the application of genes in hair cells and neural regeneration to treat hearing impairment. The second is using stem cells to generate patient-specific hair cells to recover hearing loss.

The research includes the newly developed patient-specific induced pluripotent stem cell and inner ear organoid model that will allow the exploration of many aspects of inner ear cell biology and cell engineering in the search for a cure for hearing loss.

This program of research is designing new drugs that aim to treat sensorineural, drug-induced, and age-related hearing loss and prevent hearing loss.

The main areas of hearing research include small molecules, and gene and viable cell targeting in the middle and inner ear using bio nanotechnology and pharmaceutical sciences.

Scaffolds and surgical implant research aims to develop commercial end-user devices that can aid damaged eardrums. With the support of a Wellcome Trust Grant and developed in conjunction with Deakin University, ClearDrum is a prosthetic device designed for those with perforations in the ear drum, which often result from middle ear infections.

This ground-breaking device, which will function as a whole or partial artificial eardrum, may increase the success rate of surgery for patients and optimise healing.

Our Focus Areas

Gene & Cell Therapies

Advancing regenerative and gene-based treatments to repair and restore inner ear function.

Translational Research

Moving discoveries from laboratory research into clinical application and real-world care.

Clinical Trials

Delivering innovative therapies through rigorous, world-class clinical studies.

Precision Medicine

Using genetic and biological insights to develop more targeted, personalised treatments.

Lead Researchers

Elaine Wong

Head of Hearing Therapeutics

Prof Marcus Atlas AM

Board of Trustees, Surgeon Scientist

Key Publications:

Overcoming barriers: a review on innovations in drug delivery to the middle and inner ear. Front Pharmacol. 14:1207141; 2023. doi:10.3389/fphar.2023.1207141

DS, Liew LJ, Lye J, Atlas MD, Wong EYM.

Recent therapeutic advances in hearing loss. Biomedicines. 11(12):3347; 2023. doi:10.3390/biomedicines11123347

Lye J, Delaney DS, Leith FK, Sardesai VS, McLenachan S, Chen FK, Atlas MD, Wong EYM.

Generation of three induced pluripotent stem cell lines from a patient with Usher syndrome caused by biallelic c.949C > A and c.1256G > T mutations in the USH2A gene. Stem Cell Res. 50:102129; 2021. doi.org/10.1016/j.scr.2020.102129

Zaw K, Wong EYM, Zhang X, Zhang D, Chen S, Thompson JA, Lamey T, McLaren T, De Roach JN, Wilton SD, Fletcher S, Mitrpant C, Atlas MD, Chen FK, McLenachan S.

Contact Our Team

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Explore Our Research

Explore our other research focus area in more detail, where our science continues to set best practices with a fully integrated model of clinical and research activities allowing us to translate our knowledge into tangible outcomes for our community and beyond.

Hearing Outreach

Hearing Devices and Implants

Surgical Science