Faculty

Research Overview

Our laboratory investigates how inner ear sensory systems work—how the inner ear selects and amplifies external stimuli. Inner ear sensory cells are called mechanoelectric transducers because they are mechanically stimulated by surrounding soft tissues or fluid to generate electric signals. We focus on the mechanical interaction between inner ear sensory cells and their surrounding structures. Computational and experimental methods are combined for our research. Various engineering/biological principles are incorporated such as structural acoustics, micro-fluidics, microelectromechanical systems, and electrophysiology. Our goal is to (1) contribute to the understanding of sensorineural hearing and balance disorders and (2) provide new insights for the design of biologically inspired mechano-transduction sensors and prosthetics.

For further details follow this link at BME faculty research site.

Representative Publications

1. J.-H. Nam and R. Fettiplace, Force transmission in the organ of Corti micromachine, Biophysical Journal, 2010 Jun, 98(12):2813-2821
2. M. Beurg, J.-H. Nam, Q Chen and R. Fettiplace, Calcium balance and mechanotransduction in rat cochlear hair cells, Journal of Neurophysiology, 2010 Jul, 104(1):18-34
3. M. Beurg, R. Fettiplace, J.-H. Nam, A. J. Ricci, Localization of hair cell mechanotransducer channels using high speed calcium imaging , Nature Neuroscience, 2009 May, 12(5):553-558, Authors listed in alphabetical order

Research Interests

• Biophysics of inner ear sensory cells
• Cell and tissue mechanics