Stem cells could be used to cure deafness, study suggests
Sensory cells and neurons essential for hearing have been grown from stem cells found in the inner earResearchers have taken the first step towards curing deafness with stem cells grown in the laboratory.Early versions of the sensory hair cells and neurons essential for hearing were created from stem cells taken from the inner ear. Further work could lead to the creation of fully functional cells that could be used to treat total hearing loss.The British-led team has now begun the next phase of their work involving research on animals.Practical deafness treatments are believed to be at least 10 years away, but the cells could also provide useful tools for studying the causes of deafness and testing new drugs.Lead researcher Dr Marcelo Rivolta at the University of Sheffield said: "The potential of stem cells is very exciting. We have now an experimental system to study genes and drugs in a human...
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