Operation Regrow - Will We Ever Cure Hearing Loss?

This week marks the start of Operation Regrow, a campaign started by the Hearing Health Foundation (HHF) to raise money and find better treatments and cures for hearing loss. 

buddyphones - imagezoo© Imagezoo/Corbis

Operation Regrow is an international movement that is working towards finding a cure for hearing loss. Their pioneering research looks into other species that have proved able of regrowing damaged sensory hair cells that receive sound.

From Tuesday, June 5, you can support the team of scientists conducting life-changing research to restore lost hearing. All contributions received by June 19 will be matched by an anonymous donor, doubling the impact of the fundraising drive.

"The question is not if we will regenerate hair cells in humans, but when."

— HRP Scientific Director Peter Barr-Gillespie, Ph.D.

 buddyphones - hearing health

A colored microgram of the hairs in the inner ear. © Wellcome Images

 Here are five things you need to know about Operation Regrow:

    1. Although it can be prevented, damage to the sensory cells in the human inner ear causes irreversible hearing loss.

    2. The Hearing Restoration Project (HRP) is the first international research consortium focused on investigating hair cell regeneration as a cure for hearing loss and tinnitus.

    3. The HRP members know that the key to hearing loss cures is the human ability to regrowcells in the inner ear. This phenomenon is already possible in certain species. The HRP has observed cell regrowth in chickens, fish, and young mice.

    4. The HRP is comprised of 15 senior scientists who work collaboratively by openly sharing data and ideas, which speeds up the research process.

    5. All Operation Regrow contributions will directly help the Hearing Restoration Project. The HHF has a high-rating charity safeguard groups like Charity Navigator and CharityWatch for using 100% of donations to support critical research.

buddyohones hearing loss
Did you know that chickens are able to regrow damaged hearing cells?
© The Spruce

To make a gift to Operation Regrow, please visit www.hhf.org/regrow between June 5 and June 19. Gifts may also be made by phone during business hours, 9:00 AM to 5:30 PM EDT, at 212-257-6140. We’ll be sure to keep you updated on our progress. Thank you for supporting HRP and hearing health!

 

Sources: 
- https://hearinghealthfoundation.org/blogs/the-countdown-to-operation-regrow

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