This project aims to 1) to examine the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying noise induced hearing loss; 2) to investigate the genetic modulation of age-related hearing loss; and 3) to evaluate how aging and exposure to noise interact causing hearing dysfunction in the zebrafish model.

Relying on a variety of electrophysiology, immunohistochemistry, imaging, genetic and and behavioral techniques. this project provides an opportunity to gain a comprehensive knowledge on the underlying mechanisms of auditory dysfunction in vertebrates. The team will focus on two main types of acquired hearing impairment and their interaction at the structure and function levels, which is fundamental for a sensible design of protective measures and treatment of human deafness.