Research Seminar: “Developmental Epigenetics and the Failure of Regeneration in the Mammalian Inner Ear"
Presented by
Neil Segil, PhD
Professor, Department of Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine
USC Tina and Rick Caruso Department of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery
Keck School of Medicine of USC
Talk Summary
Sensory hair cells of the organ of Corti do not spontaneously regenerate in the mature mammal, making deafness due to hair cell loss permanent. Our working hypothesis is that during developmental maturation, epigenetic barriers arise that block the re-activation of developmental gene regulatory networks essential for regeneration. I will discuss our studies of the epigenetic mechanisms regulating the complex cellular patterning of the organ of Corti during development, the postnatal changes that we hypothesize lead to the failure of regeneration in the mature organ, and the utility of “lineage reprogramming” approaches to define the mechanisms underlying these changes.
About the Speaker
Dr. Segil is Professor in the Department of Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, and the USC Caruso Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery at Keck Medical School of the University of Southern California. The death of sensory hair cells in the inner ear, and their failure to regenerate, are the major causes of deafness and balance disorders affecting more than half of all adults in the U.S. by the time they reach retirement age. The long-term goal of our laboratory is the treatment of deafness and balance disorders by restoration of the sensory hair cells through regenerative medicine. Our research is on the molecular genetic processes that shape the complex sensory structures of the inner ear; in particular, the mechanisms that control cell division and cell fate during embryonic development and during the failure of regeneration in adults. We also study the homeostatic mechanisms that allow the lifelong survival of sensory hair cells, as well as their particular sensitivity to environmental stress, such as noise and chemotherapy agents.
Hosted by
David Cobrinik, MD, PhD
The Vision Center and The Saban Research Institute
Children's Hospital Los Angeles
Associate Professor
Ophthalmology and Biochemistry & Molecular Medicine
The USC Roski Eye Institute and Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center
Keck School of Medicine of USC
Additional Information
Lunch will be provided to seminar guests; first come, first served
Help us save plastic! Bring your own water bottles. Water will be available to fill your bottles.
Brought to you by TSRI Office of Training, Education, Career Planning & Development (TECPAD)
RSVP is required to tecpad@chla.usc.edu