Mechanisms of Temporary Hearing Loss After Acoustic Trauma: Tip Link Disruption and Regeneration in Cochlear Hair Cells Institut Pasteur in France

This PhD project investigates the mechanisms underlying temporary threshold shift (TTS), a transient elevation in hearing threshold following exposure to loud or prolonged noise. While TTS has traditionally been considered harmless, recent evidence suggests that it can cause hidden cochlear damage, potentially leading to permanent hearing loss, tinnitus, hyperacusis, and accelerated presbycusis. The project aims to clarify the cellular and molecular processes involved in TTS, focusing on cochlear hair cells and their mechanosensitive organelles, the hair bundles.

Key objectives include demonstrating the role of tip link rupture in TTS in noise-exposed mice, characterizing the kinetics of tip link regeneration, and developing functional tests to assess tip link breakage in humans. The research will use animal models exposed to high-intensity noise to induce TTS, followed by functional hearing assessments such as auditory brainstem responses (ABR), otoacoustic emissions (OAE), and frequency-following responses (FFR). Super-resolution imaging at the Institut de l’Audition will enable quantification of tip link rupture and its distribution across the cochlea.

Regeneration of tip links will be studied at multiple time points post-exposure (12, 24, 48, and 96 hours) to determine recovery dynamics. The project also extends to human studies, correlating animal data with functional outcomes in concert attendees exposed to noise. Pilot studies will categorize participants based on their hearing deficits, including synaptopathy and tip link rupture, using advanced diagnostic tools developed by the IdA and IRCAM teams.

The research is a collaboration between Dr Maia Brunstein (Institut de l’Audition, Institut Pasteur, Paris), an expert in cochlear dissection and high-resolution microscopy, and Dr Patrick Susini (Perception and Sound Design group, IRCAM, CNRS, Paris), specializing in auditory modeling and psychoacoustics. The project promises to advance understanding of early cochlear injury, improve phenotyping of hearing disorders, and inform preventive strategies for hearing health.

Applicants should have a strong background in biology, neuroscience, or medical science, with experience in animal models, auditory physiology, or imaging techniques preferred. The position is based at the Institut Pasteur in Paris, offering access to state-of-the-art facilities and collaborative research teams. Funding details are not specified in the announcement. Interested candidates should apply via the Institut Pasteur research portal and may contact the supervisors for further information.