• Cellular and molecular control hair cell regeneration in non-mammalian species (in particular zebrafish and chickens)
• Our current understanding of the capacity for hair cell replacement in mammals (rodents and humans).
• Signals controlling pro-regenerative behaviors in supporting cells, the hair cell progenitors.
• New techniques that have been applied to study the genetic and epigenetic regulation of hair cell regeneration in mammals and non-mammals.
• Contributions of stem cells toward building new tools to explore how hair cell regeneration is controlled and toward developing cells and tissue for therapeutic transplantation.
• Studies that have applied gene and drug therapy to promote regeneration in mammals.
Dr. Mark Warchol is Professor of Otolaryngology at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis.
Dr. Jennifer Stone is Research Professor of Otolgaryngolldy/Head and Neck Surgery, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle.
Dr. Allison Coffin is an Associate Professor in the Department of Integrative Physiology and Neuroscience at Washington State University Vancouver.
Dr. Arthur N. Popper is Professor Emeritus and research professor in the Department of Biology at the University of Maryland, College Park.