All NIH staff and the public are welcome to attend.
On Wednesday, July 15, 2026, in a hybrid lecture open to all NIH staff and the public, Dr. Ronna Hertzano, a Senior Investigator and chief of the Neurotology Branch at the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD), will discuss how her laboratory is looking to advance our understanding of inner ear, its response to injury, and search for new treatments for hearing loss.
The virtual lecture will be open to all, with live captioning available. In-person attendance is available to NIH staff only.
- What: “The Future is Listening: Discovery, Innovation, and Hope in Hearing Health.” This lecture is part of the NIDCD Beyond the Lab, Understanding Communication Disorders speaker series.
- Who: Ronna Hertzano, M.D., Ph.D., Senior Investigator and chief of the Neurotology Branch, NIDCD.
- When: Wednesday, July 15, 2026, 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. Eastern time.
- Where: NIH videocast website. Limited in-person attendance is open to NIH staff only, Building 31, 6C Room A/B.
The Neurotology Branch was established within the NIDCD Division of Intramural Research to advance research on hearing loss, tinnitus, and balance disorders. Led by Ronna Hertzano, M.D., Ph.D., the branch combines basic, translational, and clinical research to develop new approaches for preventing, diagnosing, and treating these conditions.
The branch's research focuses on understanding the inner ear's sensory hair cells, whose loss is a major cause of hearing impairment, and identifying factors that influence hearing loss across the lifespan. Using advanced genomic technologies and clinical studies, researchers are working to accelerate the development of innovative therapies that preserve and restore hearing and balance.
This seminar is part of the Beyond the Lab, Understanding Communication Disorders speaker series. Each seminar is led by a researcher or staff member from NIDCD, part of the National Institutes of Health. The speaker series is an opportunity for everyone inside and outside of NIH—administrative staff, support staff, scientists, and the public—to learn about NIDCD research in communication disorders, which affect about 20 percent of U.S. adults at some point in their lives.
The videocast will be captioned and recorded for later viewing. American Sign Language interpreting and CART (real-time transcription) services are available upon request to participate in this event. Individuals needing either of these services and/or other reasonable accommodations should contact Evan Wicker (evan.wicker@nih.gov) by June 30 to ensure interpreter availability. To access Telecommunications Relay Services (TRS), call 711.
About the Speaker
Ronna Hertzano, M.D., Ph.D. is chief of the Neurotology Branch in the NIDCD Division of Intramural Research and an otolaryngologist surgeon-scientist specializing in hearing restoration. Her research focuses on understanding the molecular mechanisms of hearing loss and developing therapies to prevent and treat age-related and noise-induced hearing loss. Dr. Hertzano earned her M.D. and Ph.D. from Tel Aviv University and completed her residency and fellowship training at the University of Maryland School of Medicine, where she served as a full professor before joining NIDCD in 2023. She is also the creator of the gEAR (gene Expression Analysis Resource) portal and has received numerous honors for her research, teaching, and mentorship.