The Bermingham-McDonogh laboratory is interested in two main research
questions:

How do the sensory structures of the inner ear form?

Are there ways to manipulate certain pathways to encourage regeneration of the
sensory cells after loss?

These questions directly pertain to hearing and balance in humans. In humans
damage to the sensory cells (hair cells) in the inner ear causes deafness or balance
problems and once lost these cells do not regenerate. Reinitiating some signaling
pathways that are used during the initial formation of these sensory structures may
enable regenerative capacity after damage. We use mouse as our model system and
our lab uses a variety of techniques including organ culture, single cell and tissue
profiling of RNA and chromatin, transgenic and knockout animals, as well as routine
molecular biology and cell culture.