# Application of mild therapeutic hypothermia for hearing conservation during cochlear implant surgeries

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI SCHOOL OF MEDICINE · 2023 · $404,603

## Abstract

Project Summary
More than half a million patients, including children, have benefitted from the remarkable technological
breakthrough that are cochlear implants (CI). An increasing number of patients have some level of residual
hearing at the time of implantation and can benefit from bimodal electro-acoustic devices. Surviving hair cell
activity and as a result a functioning organ of Corti and neural substrate has recently been linked to speech
perception outcomes. However, trauma during implantation leads to inflammation and oxidative stress that can
exacerbate residual hearing loss. Successful translation of therapeutic interventions to limit pathophysiology of
the injury have yet to be achieved. The present work will design and implement applications of localized,
therapeutic hypothermia for protection of hair cells and neural substrate following CI. The specific aims are
motivated by preliminary and published data showing that localized, mild hypothermia delivered to the cochlea
is highly effective and safe, protecting hair cells and synaptic components, protecting the integrity of the
cochlear blood-labyrinth barrier and preserving residual hearing long-term after implantation. Specific aim 1 will
test safety and efficacy of cooling when applied to the cochlea and develop an optimal protocol for improved
long-term functional and physiological outcomes. In specific aim 2 using molecular biology and
immunohistochemistry techniques we will define the neuroprotective mechanisms underlying hypothermia.
Combining the preclinical results with human cadaver temporal bone studies in specific aim 3, we will develop
a device and system for human application. The system will enable delivery of optimized hypothermia therapy
for residual structure and functional protection post-implant. Ensuring the survival of sensitive hair cells and
neural structures in the cochlea are likely to lead to improved speech perception outcomes and will enable
patients to benefit from future technologies and/or therapies. The results from this project can be further
extended to other inner ear-related trauma such as ototoxicity, or noise- and blast-induced trauma.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10540231
- **Project number:** 5R01DC019158-03
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI SCHOOL OF MEDICINE
- **Principal Investigator:** Suhrud M. Rajguru
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2023
- **Award amount:** $404,603
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2021-01-11 → 2025-12-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10540231

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10540231, Application of mild therapeutic hypothermia for hearing conservation during cochlear implant surgeries (5R01DC019158-03). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10540231. Licensed CC0.

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