Otology/Neurotology Research

Pioneers in Cochlear Implants

A pioneer in cochlear implantation, IU School of Medicine faculty otologists have helped thousands of children and adults with profound deafness since 1978. Devices provide hearing for those who do not derive benefit from hearing aids. Cochlear implants are available to preserve residual low-frequency hearing in addition to improving word discrimination. As hearing is significant to neurocognitive functioning, more than 1,800 people with implant devices are monitored by the cochlear implant team. The long history of implant surgery and post-surgery analysis at IU School of Medicine has resulted with impactful research and leader in the field. The DeVault Otologic Research Lab provides groundbreaking knowledge on speech perception and language development in children with cochlear implants and have led to a better understanding of children’s adaptive behavior development and executive function.

Leaders in Cerebrospinal Fluid Leaks

Surgeons in the Division of Otology repair spontaneous cerebrospinal fluid leaks, the highest volume in Indiana. Through academic research, faculty discovered a significant link between spontaneous cerebrospinal fluid leaks and obesity. With the rise in obesity, otologists anticipate an increased number of patients with spontaneous cerebrospinal fluid leaks. Ongoing studies within the division examine causes of this condition, including obstructive sleep apnea.

3D Stem Cell Biology Research Group

Research teams in the 3D Stem Cell Biology Research Group, led by two faculty scientists in the department, investigate the restoration of hearing and promotion of hair cell regeneration by studying how specific chemical compounds can trigger hair cell regeneration after damage to these sensory receptor cells. By developing human dish-grown, three-dimensional (3D) inner ear tissues called “human inner ear organoids,” which mimic the structure and function of native human inner ear tissues, investigators are working to generate cochlear tissues containing sound-sensing receptors and neurons that transmit hearing sensation to the brain.

Laboratory of Eri Hashino, PhD

Laboratory of Rick Nelson, MD, PhD

Otology/Neurotology Publications

Rabbani CC, Patel JM, Nag AK, Schueth EA, Saltagi MZ, Kao R, Nelson RF, Association of Intracranial Hypertension with Calvarial and Skull Base Thinning, Otol Neurotol. 2019 Jul;40(6) e619-626; PMID: 31045889

Alwani K, Bandali E, Van Buren L, Yates CW, Nelson RF, Audiologic Improvement Following MCF Approach for Spontaneous Cerebrospinal Fluid Leaks, Otol Neurotol, 2019 Sep;40(8)1026-1033 PMID: 31157725

Gehlhausen JR, Hawley E, Wahle BM, He Y, Edwards D, Rhodes SD, Lajiness JD, Staser K, Chen S, Yang X, Yuan J, Li X, Jiang L, Smith A, Bessler W, Sandusky G, Stemmer-Rachamimov A, Stuhlmiller TJ, Angus SP, Johnson GL, Nalepa G, Yates CW, Wade Clapp D, Park SJ. A protesome-resistant fragment of NIK mediates oncogenic NF-kB signaling in schwannomas; 2019;28(4) Hum Mol Genet.

Allaway R, Angus SP, Beauchamp RL, Blakeley JO, Bott M, Burns SS, Carlstedt A, Chang LS, Chen X, Clapp DW, Desouza PA, Erdin S, Fernandez-Valle C, Guinney J, Gusella JF, Haggarty SJ, Johnson GL, La Rosa S, Morrison H, Petrilli AM, Plotkin SR, Pratap A, Ramesh V, Sciaky N, Stemmer-Rachamimov A, Stuhlmiller TJ, Talkowski ME, Welling DB, Yates CW, Zawistowski JS, Zhao WN. Traditional and systems biology based drug discovery for the rare tumor syndrome neurofibromatosis type 2; 2018,13;13(6) PloS One.

Fields T, Schnetzer L, Brister E, Yates CW, Withnell R, An assessment of a conical horn waveguide to represent the human ear drum. 2018 JPhysD.

Rabbani CC, Saltagi MZ, Manchanda SK, Yates CW, Nelson RF. Prevalence of Obstructive Sleep Apnea(OSA) in Spontaneous Cerebrospinal Fluid (CSF) Leaks: A Prospective Cohort Study. 2018;39(6):e475-e480 Otol Neurotol.

Rabbani, CC, Saltagi, MZ, YeMJ, Patel JM, Manchanda SK, Nelson RF, Association of Obstructive Sleep Apnea with Calvarial and Skull Base Thinning, JAMA Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg, 2018; 144(6): 513-518;PMID: 29801027

Lobo BC, Baumanis MM, Nelson RF, Surgical Repair of Spontaneous Cerebrospinal Fluid (CSF) Leaks: A Systematic Review, Laryngoscope Investig Otolaryngol. 2017, Apr7; 2(5):215-224. PMID: 29094066

Wahle BM, Hawley ET, He Y, Smith AE, Yuan J, Masters AR, Jones DR, Gehlhausen JR, Park SJ, Conway SJ, Clapp WD, Yates CW, Chemopreventative celecoxib fails to prevent schwannoma formation or sensorineural hearing loss in genetically engineered murine model of neurofibromatosis; 2017 Oncotarget.

Kao R, Wannemuehler T, Yates CW, Nelson RF. Outpatient management of cholesteatoma with canal wall reconstruction tympanomastoidectomy; 2017; 2(6):351-357 Laryngoscope Investig Otolaryngol.

Nelson RF, Roche, JP, Gantz BJ, Hansen, MH, Middle Cranial Fossa (MCF) Approach without the use of Lumbar Drain for the Management of Spontaneous Cerebral Spinal Fluid (CSF) leaks, Otol Neurotol, 2016, Dec;37(10): 1625-29. PMID 27631830

Nelson RF, Gantz BJ, Hansen MR. The rising incidence of spontaneous cerebrospinal fluid leaks in the United States and the association with obesity and obstructive sleep apnea. Otol Neurotol. 2015;36(3):476-480. PMID: 25111523

Nelson RF, Hansen KR, Gantz BJ, Hansen MR. Calvarium thinning in patients with spontaneous cerebrospinal fluid leak. Otol Neurotol. 2015;36(3):481-485. PMID: 25122599

Gehlhausen JR, Park SJ, Hickox AE, Shew M; Staser K, Rhodes S, Menon K, Lajiness JD, Mwanthi M, Yang X, Yuan J, Territo P, Hutchins G, Nalepa G, Yang F, Conway SJ, Heinz MG, Stemmer-Rachamimov A, Yates CW, Clapp WD, A murine model of Neurofibromatosis Type 2 that accurately phenocopies human schwannoma formation; 2014 Human Molecular Genetics

Bush ML, Oblinger J, Brendel V, Santarelli G, Huang J, Akhmametyeva EM, Burns SS, Wheeler J, Davis J, Yates CW, Chaudhury AR, Kulp S, Chen CS, Chang LS, Welling DB, Jacob A, AR-42, a novel histone deacetylase inhibitor, as a potential therapy for vestibular schwannomas, and meningiomas; 2011,13(9) Neuro-Oncology.

Hansen-Welches, L, Yates, CW, Cordes, SR, Halum, SL. Laryngeal Melanosis: A Case Series and Review of the Literature; 2011, 121(S4), The Laryngoscope.

Yates CW, Weinberg M, Packer MJ, Jacob A, Fatal case of tumor-associated hemorrhage in a large vestibular schwannoma; 2010,119(6) Annals of Otology, Rhinology & Laryngology.

Halum SL, Yates CW, Granular Cell Tumor of the Esophagus Presenting as a Duplication Cyst; 2008 ENT Journal.

El-Mounayri O, Triplett JW, Yates CW, Herring BP, Regulation of smooth muscle-specific gene expression by homeodomain proteins, HoxA10 and HoxB8; 2005,280 J Biol Chem.

Christenson JC, Yates CW, A Simple Arm Positioning Aid for Fracture Table Cases; 2003,98(2) Anesthesiology.