EUBioEar

 

Uppsala University, Sweden, ENT Department.

EU Bio-Ear The role of the department within the programme will be to lead the work into the assessment to identify neurotrophin (NTF) and growth factor (GDNF) receptors and demonstrate their responsiveness in human SGC in culture; and assess the optimal NTF/GF candidates for survival and re-growth of the human auditory nerve. This team is headed by Professor Helge Rask-Andersen. He has pioneered studies into the morphological aspects of human inner ear and dynamics of endolymph flow and homeostasis. Professor Rask-Andersen has developed a special technique which allows the safe removal of cochlear tissue when operating large petroclival menigioma. This procedure is performed with informed consent and does not compromise the patient in any way. It is accepted by the local Ethical Committe. It will be used in the present study. Uppsala is the only centre in Europe with the expertise to perform this procedure. The spiral ganglion cells (SGCs) can be fixed immediately if EM will be carried out (preserving structures) or put into culturing fluid if the cells are to be cultured. In the latter case cells will be transferred to the University of Ferrara, as they are required for studies. Uppsala is in this way a unique resoure for providing human tissue for studies and for establishing normative data of human SGCs as they differ from those of other species (notably spiral ganglion morphology, particularly relevant to this project).

                Key Personnel

Pictures please

This team is headed by Professor Helge Rask-Andersen. He has pioneered studies into the morphological aspects of human inner ear and the dynamics of endolymphatic flow. Professor Rask-Andersen has developed a special technique which allows the safe removal of the intact bony labyrinth when operating a large acoustic neurinoma or petroclival meningeoma. This procedure is performed with informed consent and is accepted by the Local Ethical Committee. It will be used in the present study. It does not compromise the patient i any way. Uppsala is the only centre in Europe with the expertise to perform this procedure. The spiral ganglion cells can be fixated immediately if EM will be carried out (preserving structures) or put into culturing fluid if the cell are to be cultured. In the latter case cells will be transferred to the University of Ferrara, as they are required for studies. When the culturing technique is mastered, then the cell culture set up will also be established in Uppsala for easier access, in collaboration with the University of Ferrara. Uppsala is in this vein a unique resource for provision of human tissue for studies and for establishing normals for human SGCs as they differ from those of other species (notably spiral ganglion morphology, particulary relevant to this project).
   
   


Last updated: 12/03/02.