Conference Summary The grant is submitted to request partial support for the 12th Conference on the Molecular Biology of Hearing and Deafness. This series of conferences has been held successfully since 1992, which argues strongly for the continued success of future conferences. The goals of the conference will: 1. Promote research in emerging areas of molecular biology in the field of auditory sciences. These areas include: high throughput -omics approaches such as genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, epigenomics and metabolomics, all of which have experienced soaring growth due to technological advances and increasing availability of big data repositories. 2. Highlight progress and anticipate new growth areas in the molecular biology of hearing and deafness by inviting select scientists doing cutting-edge research to present keynote lectures in a TED-style format. 3. Encourage engagement by trainees and young scientists by soliciting oral and poster presentations related to the auditory system and offering opportunities to meet and interact with senior investigators through a speed-dating event. 3. Facilitate interaction and collaboration between laboratories engaged in molecular auditory research, as well as between basic scientists, translational scientists and clinicians with related interests in the molecular biology and molecular genetics of deafness through multiple interactive panels and social events linked to poster presentations. 4. Foster translational research that can lead to novel diagnostic and therapeutic strategies for the treatment of hearing disorders. 5. Enable trainees and scientists from under-represented groups to attend and foster interest in careers in the molecular biology of hearing and deafness. 6. Provide outreach to patients, patient advocacy groups, clinicians and schools in the local area, for education in the genetics of deafness and hearing research.