NeuEar Project to develop a neurotrophic cochlear implant for profoundly deaf patients
Sixteen percent of adult Europeans suffer from hearing loss that is severe enough to adversely affect their daily life. A large portion of this population is affected by sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) that typically occurs following damage and/or loss of hair cells in the cochlea. The loss of endogenous neurotrophic factors normally expressed by these hair cells is a strong mediator of auditory neuron (AN) degeneration. Intra-cochlear delivery of neurotrophic factors with beneficial protective and/or regenerative effects on ANs could significantly improve the cochlear implant/patient interface, and lead to a better treatment of profoundly deaf patients. The NeuEar concept (www.neuear.eu) is to develop an encapsulated cell (EC) therapy device capable of long-term intracochlear neurotrophin production in combination with a cochlear implant (CI) electrode to improve the clinical benefits by rescuing primary ANs from degeneration and promoting the neuron-electrode interface. The NeuEar consortium gathers industrial and academic partners from Denmark, Sweden, Germany, Austria and the US around a common goal of developing an innovative ear implant. The EU Framework 7th funded three year project was launched in September 2012 and is led by the SME NsGene A/S (www.nsgene.com). 9-10 March 2015, Innsbruck (Austria) – NeuEar Annual Meeting The whole project partnership convened for its 2015 meeting in Innsbruck, Austria to review progress and strategies in the development of the novel device. Yearly physical meetings combined with monthly phone conferences in which the young scientists and active researchers share data, address any technical challenge on time and discuss the future steps, are strengthening the consortium. The close collaboration between the NeuEar teams has facilitated the rapid achievement of the first goals. Following in vitro assays, we have selected the most efficient cells and neurotrophic factors to be inserted into a miniaturized Brain Repair encapsulated cell (EC) device. Brain Repair EC prototypes have been successfully combined with cochlear implant prototypes, and their safety and functional effects have been evaluated and optimized in in vitro and in vivo assays. In vivo experiments evaluating the safety and efficacy of the combined device in animal models were presented at the Innsbruck meeting. Three weeks after deafening, guinea pig cochleae were implanted with Brain Repair devices delivering glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) or brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). Six and seven weeks after deafening, both GDNF- and BDNF-producing devices did exert a protective effect on the ANs. Based on the short-term guinea pig studies, chronic cat studies addressing the long-term effects of neurotrophic delivery have started. Pilot studies demonstrating the feasibility of combining a cat cochlear implant with the Brain Repair device are well underway. Results from the long-term cat study are expected in the second half of 2015. See www.neuear.eu or join our group on LinkedIn for future news. Contact and more information: Dr. Lars Wahlberg & Dr. Jens Tornøe, NsGene A/S Email: info@neuear.eu Web: www.neuear.eu
Paesi
Austria, Germany, Denmark, Sweden, United States