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Research activities: My research activities include the study of the biology and morphology of sensory organs and neural pathways of the vestibular systems of humans, as well as their changes due to age and disease. Parallel to this research, I use animal models to investigate the process of hair cell degeneration and regeneration /repair after the exposure of ototoxic agents. The ultimate goal is to elucidate molecular mechanisms and signals used to activate regenerative processes as well as the role of trophic substances to enhance hair cell regeneration or prevent damage in the inner ear.
Specifically, I am interested in study the changes in the vestibular sensory hair cells and nerve fibers with age (In collaboration with Dr Robert Baloh and Dr Akira Ishiyama). In this project, I perform histopathological and quantitative analysis. I also apply immunoelectron microscopic techniques to investigate the molecular and cellular basis of disease in postmortem specimens -inner ear and inner ear tissue obtained from otologic surgeons in our group. I am responsible for the implementation of quantitative stereological techniques to study age-related changes in the human vestibular system. I also collaborate with Dr Daniel Bachiller and Dr Teresa Palos, in the designing and interpretation of in vitro experiments to study hair cell regeneration in the mouse inner ear
I have continued my research on vestibular hair cell regeneration in the chinchilla inner ear after gentamicin ototoxic treatment. In collaboration with Dr Vicente Honrubia, I have written several reports related to this investigation, including an article that demonstrate for the first time the protective effect of the neurophin BDNF on vestibular hair cells after gentamicin ototoxic treatment. Data from this report provide information that will open new venues for the treatment of inner ear deficits.
I interact and collaborate on ongoing research projects with scientists from various laboratories and departments at UCLA and institutions in the U.S. and abroad (i.e., Dr Paul Micevych, Dr John Edmond and Dr Araceli Espinosa de los Monteros from the Mental Retardation Center; Dr Joanna Jen, Neurology Department UCLA School of Medicine; Dr Cristina Bertoloto, Pediatrics Department, Cedar Sinai Medical Center; Dr Young Tang Mount Sinai School of Medicine NY; Dr Imelda Lopez, Biomedical Research Institute/National Autonomous University of Mexico).
Teaching activities: As Director of the Morphology Laboratory of the Victor Goodhill Ear Center, I am responsible of train and supervise postdoctoral fellows from the U.S. and abroad, UCLA undergraduates, Medical School students, residents, and Ph.D. candidates in all aspects of experimentation, data gathering and analysis, review and verification of stated hypothesis. These activities also include the writing of proposals and design of experimental protocols.
Administrative activities: I supervise daily activities of a laboratory employing and training more than 10 personnel, maintenance of equipment, supervise the harvesting of donors' temporal bones and brain specimens and their preparation for histological examination. Review papers for scientific journals. Review laboratory's supply and equipment needs and approve purchases, organizing the Brain and Ear bank and catalog all the specimens generated from the several projects. In coordination with the different PI’s I prepare every year renewal of animal research projects license, radiation safety license, and hazardous material disposal permits.
Research Interests
- Molecular Anatomy of the inner ear in human and animal models
Titles
Other Interests
- Training undergraduated students
Memberships in Scholarly or Professional Societies
- Association for Research in Otolaryngology
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