Hearing loss is a global health problem with socioeconomic impact and high unmet medical need. Currently, there are no approved medical treatments for hearing loss and no animal-free tools to develop drugs for hearing loss and inner ear disease.

An important cellular structure in the inner ear is formed by the inner ear-blood-maze barrier (BLB). It ensures adequate blood supply to the inner ear and is central to the development of efficient delivery of therapeutics for hearing loss and inner ear disease.

We are supporting the development and validation of the first microengineered human cell-based chip model that mimics the BLB in combination with Meniere’s disease. Meniere’s disease occurs when there is an abnormal increase in fluid in the inner ear and is associated with hearing loss, tinnitus, and balance disorders. The funded in vitro model will allow to study the inflammatory processes associated with the disease as well as to develop therapeutic options. At the same time, a milestone in the field of inner ear research can be achieved with the animal-free model.