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EARssentials: Concepts and Techniques of Contemporary Hearing Research 2017

Event Date: July 17, 2017 - July 21, 2017
Time: Check event schedule
Location: National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD

Thanks to all who attended the 2017 EARssentials course. Information about the 2018 EARssentials course is available.

Videocasts of the 2016 EARssentials lectures and Q&A sessions remain available online:

  • Day 1 (Monday, 7/18/16): Course introduction. Introduction to the auditory system. Auditory mechanics and the traveling wave. History of auditory research. 
  • Day 2 (Tuesday, 7/19/16): Introduction to the vestibular system. Development of the inner ear. Spiral ganglion. 
  • Day 3 (Wednesday, 7/20/16): The stereocilia bundle and mechanotransduction. Hair cells/hair cell death/age-related hearing loss/protection. 
  • Day 4 (Thursday, 7/21/16): Hair cell regeneration. The hair cell synapse. Efferent regulation of auditory function. 
  • Day 5 (Friday, 7/22/16): Lateral line. Genetics of hearing loss. Clinical treatments. Introduction to gene profiling and bioinformatics. 

An Introductory Course for Scientists and Those Interested in Science

Join us for EARssentials 2017, to be held July 17-21! Registration is now open. Contact Elyssa Monzack, Ph.D. to apply for a slot in the course or to reserve a seat at the lectures.

This free, week-long course, hosted and taught by scientists at the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD), part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), provides students with an overall conceptual view of the auditory system as well as hands-on exposure to laboratory techniques unique to research on the inner ear.

The primary audience for this course is new intramural NIDCD trainees, including post-doctoral, graduate, post-baccalaureate, and summer students. Scientists from other institutions are welcome to attend as well. The course is also useful for other interested individuals who want to learn about concepts related to the auditory system.

The class is divided into two segments:

  • Lecture sessions in the mornings, in which scientists introduce and discuss a wide array of concepts related to the auditory system. Lectures are open to all who register. Contact Elyssa Monzack, Ph.D., for more information.
  • Hands-on laboratory sessions in the afternoon. Each session will feature a different technique commonly used in hearing and balance research.

All lectures will be held in building 49, room 1A51/1A59, except for the afternoon lecture by Robert Morell on Tuesday, July 18, which will be held in building 35A, room GG607. Lab session locations will be announced soon. Campus map.

Monday, July 17
Time Presentation
8:30-9:00 a.m

Course introduction—Elyssa Monzack
(30 min)

9:00-10:00 a.m.

Lecture: Introduction to the auditory system—Andrew Griffith
(60 min)

10:00-10:15 a.m. Break
(15 min)
10:15-11:15 a.m.

Lecture: Auditory mechanics and the traveling wave—Christopher Zalewski
(60 min)

11:15-11:25 a.m. Break
(10 min)
11:25 a.m.-
12:10 p.m.

Lecture: History of auditory research—Matthew Kelley
(45 min)

12:10-12:30 p.m.

Break/Purchase lunch
(20 min)

12:30-5:30 p.m.

Laboratory session: Auditory brainstem response/distortion product otoacoustic emissions—Tracy Fitzgerald/Elizabeth Bernhard (with lunchtime pre-lab session starting at 12:30)

Tuesday, July 18
Time Presentation
8:30-9:30 a.m.

Lecture: Introduction to the vestibular system—Christopher Zalewski
(60 min)

9:30-9:40 a.m. Break
(10 min)
9:40-10:35 a.m.

Lecture: Development of the inner ear—Doris Wu
(55 min)

10:35-10:45 a.m. Break
(10 min)
10:45-11:45 a.m.

Lecture: Spiral ganglion—Thomas Coate (60 min)

11:45 a.m-
12:45 p.m.

Lunch

12:45-1:30 p.m.

Lecture: Introduction to gene profiling and bioinformatics—Robert Morell
(45 min)

1:45-5:15 p.m.

Lab tutorial: Inner ear paint fill demonstration—Doris Wu

Laboratory session: Dissection of cochlea and utricle—Matthew Kelley/Lisa Cunningham


Wednesday, July 19
Time Presentation
8:30-9:30 a.m.

Lecture: Mechanotransduction—Robert Fettiplace
(60 min)

9:30-9:40 a.m.

Break
(10 min)

9:40-10:40 a.m.

Lecture: Cochlear tuning—Robert Fettiplace
(60 min)

10:40-10:50 a.m. Break
(10 min)
10:50-11:50 a.m.

Lecture: Hair cells/hair cell death/age-related hearing loss/protection—
Lisa Cunningham
(60 min)

11:50 a.m.-1:00 p.m.

Lunch

1:00-3:30 p.m.

Laboratory session: Scanning electron microscopy
—Evan Krystofiak/Inna Belyantseva

Laboratory session: Confocal and live imaging microscopy—Elizabeth Driver

3:30-6:00 p.m.

Laboratory session: Transmission electron microscopy
—Ronald Petralia

Thursday, July 20
Time Presentation
8:30-9:30 a.m.

Lecture: Hair cell regeneration—Matthew Kelley
(60 minutes)

9:30-9:40 a.m.

Break
(10 min)

9:40-10:40 a.m.

Lecture: The hair cell synapse—Paul Fuchs/Catherine Weisz
(60 min)

10:40-10:50 a.m.

Break
(10 min)

10:50-11:50 a.m.

Lecture: Efferent regulation of auditory function—Paul Fuchs/Catherine Weisz
(60 min)

11:50 a.m.-1:00 p.m.

Lunch

1:00-3:30 p.m.

Laboratory session: Confocal and live imaging microscopy—Elizabeth Driver

Laboratory session: Transmission electron microscopy
—Ronald Petralia

Laboratory session: Scanning electron microscopy
—Evan Krystofiak/Inna Belyantseva

3:30-6:00 p.m.  

Friday, July 21
Time Presentation
8:30-
9:30 a.m.

Lecture: Genetics of hearing loss—Thomas Friedman
(60 min)

9:30-9:40 a.m. Break
(10 min)
9:40-10:40 a.m.

Lecture: Lateral line—Katie Kindt
(60 min)

10:40-10:50 a.m.

Break
(10 min)

10:50-11:35 a.m.

Lecture: Clinical treatments — Wade Chien
(45 Min)

11:35 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

Lunch

12:30-5:00 p.m.

Laboratory session: Mouse genetics—Isabelle Roux

Laboratory session: Zebrafish orientation—Katie Kindt

 

Faculty

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