Postdoctoral Research Assoc.
Oregon Hearing Research Center
Oregon Health and Science Univ.
Portland, OR
profile date: sep '05
I studied mechanisms of ion homeostasis in isolated goldfish hair cells using fluorescence ratio ion imaging. A microscopy setup was optimized to allow imaging of intracellular pH, calcium, and sodium ion concentrations. I discovered several major sodium ion transport processes which contribute to a large resting sodium entry rate. In addition I analyzed interactions between intracellular sodium concentration and pH using mathematical models.
The focus of my research is protein and membrane turnover in hair cells from the inner ear organs. I utilize the method of fluorescence recovery after photobleaching (FRAP) to measure membrane dynamics and have identified regions of differing membrane mobility in living hair cells. I also measure trafficking of proteins in hair-cell bundles by transfecting rodent inner ear cultures with GFP-fusion proteins and using confocal microscopy to document movement of the fusion proteins.
My SHBT training gave me a very broad understanding of the implications of basic science research in hair cells and how this research may contribute to alleviating hearing impairment. Exposure to the clinical aspects of speech and hearing during the SHBT clinical course motivated me to always be aware of how my research might benefit the hearing impaired. For example, I am studying turnover of proteins in hair bundles. I hope to be able to apply this research to discover whether some aspects of age-related hearing loss are due to a disruption in the regulation of hair-bundle protein recycling.
