SHEETS LAB

Research in the Sheets Lab focuses on understanding mechanisms of damage to hair-cell organs overexposed to mechanical trauma or ototoxic drugs and discovering cellular processes that drive repair following damage. We use zebrafish as a model for human hearing and balance. The zebrafish lateral-line organ-a sensory organ used to detect the movement of water-contains hair cells on the surface of the body that are analogous to human hair cells yet are easily accessible. Additionally, we take advantage of the zebrafish's ability to regenerate complex tissues to identify novel strategies for restoring damaged hair cells and innervating nerves in humans.

Primary location: Louis United States