Join us for EARssentials 2023, to be held online July 17-21! EARssentials provides students with an overall conceptual view of the auditory system as well as exposure to laboratory techniques unique to research on the inner ear. In the tenth year of this free, week-long course, hosted and taught primarily by scientists at the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD), part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), all lectures, panels, and some interactive workshops will be accessible virtually. Live captioning will be available. In-person attendance (RSVP required) is available for those at NIH.
The primary audience for this course is new intramural NIDCD trainees at all levels. Attendees from institutions outside NIH are welcome to attend virtually in 2023. The course is also useful for others who want to learn about concepts related to the auditory system.
Source: Jenny Wang
Source: Mhamed Grati
Source: Ashtyn Wiltbank
Source: Rabia Faridi
Source: Inna Belyantseva
This year, the course format will include introductory mini-lectures in the morning (also in the afternoon on Friday) and live virtual lunchtime discussions (Eastern time) with course faculty. Participants who would like more in-depth information can individually watch archived lectures from the 2021 course page, either in advance to inform the live discussions or following the course. Workshops offered virtually or via hybrid format include a mouse genetics lab and a workshop on the gEAR (gene Expression Analysis Resource) portal. The week will end with a live panel that explores current treatments for hearing loss and the careers of some of the clinician-scientists at NIDCD.
If you would like to participate in this year’s virtual EARssentials course, please e-mail Karen Fischer before July 10 to register.
Course Schedule (Eastern time zone)
Monday, July 17
10:00 – 11:40 a.m. Morning mini-lectures.
- Course introduction: Elyssa Monzack, 10:00 – 10:20 a.m.
- Introduction to the auditory system: Kelly King, 10:25 – 10:45 a.m.
- Auditory mechanics and traveling wave: Kelly King, 10:55 – 11:15 a.m.
- The evolution of the auditory system: Matthew Kelley, 11:20 – 11:40 a.m.
Noon – 1:00 p.m. Discussion session. (To access extended video content on the relevant topics, you may view the video containing the first three topics or the full-length video on the evolution of the auditory system. Video sources: 2016 EARssentials course and 2023 EARssentials course.)
Tuesday, July 18
10:00 – 11:10 a.m. Morning mini-lectures.
- Electrophysiology basics: Paul Fuchs, 10:00 – 10:20 a.m.
- The hair cell synapse: Paul Fuchs, 10:25 – 10:45 a.m.
- Spiral ganglion: Kirupa Suthakar, 10:50 – 11:10 a.m.
Noon – 1:00 p.m. Discussion session. (To access extended video content on the relevant topics, you may view the video on ion channel biology and efferent regulation of auditory function, the updated video on the hair cell synapse, and the updated video on the spiral ganglion prior to the discussion. Video sources: 2016 and 2020 EARssentials courses.)
1:15 – 3:30 p.m. Workshop: Introduction to gEAR: Ronna Hertzano and Joshua Orvis. (For additional content relevant to this workshop, you can watch the updated video on gene profiling and bioinformatics in advance or following the session. Video source: 2021 EARssentials course.)
3:45 – 5:00 p.m. Pre-lab lecture for the Introduction to Mouse Genetics lab: Isabelle Roux.
Wednesday, July 19
10:00 – 11:05 a.m. Morning mini-lectures.
- The stereocilia bundle and mechanotransduction: Angela Ballesteros, 10:00 – 10:40 a.m.
- Development of the inner ear: Doris Wu, 10:45 – 11:05 a.m.
Noon – 1:00 p.m. Discussion session. (To access extended video content on the relevant topics, you may view the Part I video on mechanotransduction, the updated Part II video on mechanotransduction, and the video on the development of the inner ear prior to the discussion. Video sources: 2016 and 2020 EARssentials courses.)
1:15 – 2:00 p.m. Introduction to confocal microscopy: Elizabeth Driver, precedes an in-person laboratory session.
Thursday, July 20
10:00 – 11:10 a.m. Morning mini-lectures.
- Hair cell death: Lisa Cunningham, 10:00 – 10:20 a.m.
- Hair cell regeneration: Matt Kelley, 10:25 – 10:45 a.m.
- Genetics of hearing loss: Tom Friedman, 10:50 – 11:10 a.m.
Noon – 1:00 p.m. Discussion session. (To access extended video content on the relevant topics, you may view the updated video on hair cell death, the video on hair cell regeneration, and the video on the genetics of hearing loss prior to the discussion. Video sources: 2016 and 2023 EARssentials courses.)
Friday, July 21
10:00 – 10:45 a.m. Morning mini-lectures.
- Introduction to the vestibular system: Christopher Zalewski, 10:00 – 10:20 a.m.
- Lateral line: Katie Kindt, 10:25 – 10:45 a.m.
10:50 – 11:30 a.m. Morning discussion session. (To access extended video content on the relevant topics, you may view the video on the vestibular system and the updated video on the zebrafish lateral line prior to the discussion. Video sources: 2016 and 2021 EARssentials courses.)
12:00 – 1:20 p.m. Afternoon mini-lectures and clinical panel. (To access extended video content, you may view the video on clinical treatments prior to the discussion. Video source: 2016 EARssentials course.)
- Clinical treatments for hearing loss: Lecturer TBD, 12:00 – 12:20 p.m.
- Clinical panel: Carmen Brewer, Wade Chien, Michael Hoa, Megan Cantwell, 12:20-1:20 p.m.
1:30 – 3:30 p.m. Laboratory session: Introduction to mouse genetics: Isabelle Roux. Space is limited; all interested participants must register with Dr. Elyssa Monzack to attend this lab.
Tuesday, July 25
Time TBD: Laboratory session (possible overflow session): Introduction to mouse genetics: Isabelle Roux.