NEOMED Prof Gets $2.18M Grant for Tinnitus Cure

ROOTSTOWN, Ohio – A professor at Northeast Ohio Medical University has ben awarded a $2.18 million grant by the National Institutes of Health to produce the first human treatment for tinnitus.

Dr. Jianxin Bao, an anatomy and neurobiology professor at NEOMED, is the principal investigator on the research proposal that received a Small Business Innovation Research Grant from the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communications Disorders. The initial grant is $972,613, with a second round of funding totaling $1,207,345 available next year if progress is satisfactory.

“This generous government support will allow us to continue working toward finding the first drug treatment for tinnitus, which is a majorhealth issue for millions of people – including the military personnel who so bravely serve our country,” Bao said in a statement.

Tinnitus is characterized by a ringing or buzzing in one or both ears. The disorder affects one in 10 Americans and is the most-reported disability reported by veterans, with 1.5 million receiving disability benefits for tinnitus. 

There is currently no treatment available for the disorder. The goal of Bao’s project is to develop a drug treatment.

“Millions of people in the United States live with tinnitus and noise-induced hearing loss every day, so I am pleased to see this federal investment in research and development that can improve the lives of so many people,” said U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan. “This is a great example of government providing the necessary investments needed for finding lasting solutions for hearing-impaired individuals.”

Source: Northeast Ohio Medical University

Published by The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.