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Principal Investigator
Lisa Goodrich Postdoctoral Fellows Evelyn Avilés Brikha Shrestha Graduate Students Chester Chia Michelle Frank Andrea Yung Undergraduate Students Staff Jocelyn Curran Lorna Wu Former Lab Members |
Chester Chia
Graduate Student, Program in Neuroscience BA in Neuroscience, Rutgers University email: ChesterChia@fas.harvard.edu Research Interests:
Spiral ganglion neurons (SGNs) are key mediators of the sense of hearing; through them, sound information is transferred from hair cells to higher-level processing centers in the CNS. Recent studies have shown that SGNs may be the primary cellular target for both age-related and noise-induced hearing loss. In fact, although hair cells often recover after an acoustic insult, loud noises damage SGN processes, inducing them to retract and undergo a long, slow process of degeneration. Identifying the pathways that keep SGNs alive would offer a new window of opportunity for diminishing the long term effects of noise exposure. Our lab has identified the zinc-finger transcription factor Gata3 as a potential regulator of protective genes that promote SGN survival during development and throughout life. Through the use of Gata3 conditional knock-outs, in-vitro survival assays, and imaging techniques, I aim to investigate how the connectivity and overall health of SGNs are maintained through a lifetime of activity. Fun Facts:
What superpower do you wish you had? The power of persuasion Which historical figure would you like to have dinner with, and what would you ask? Kaiser Wilhelm II: 'Was it worth it?' |
