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ARO NEWS
Spring 1995

President's Report

Continued Growth Necessitates Change

The 1995 Midwinter Meeting continued the trend of increasing growth. I am sure you have read similar comments in previous Spring newsletters. This year attendance increased by 10% (1,250 registration) and 25% more abstracts (800 total) were submitted. In spite of the chilly weather and shortened poster sessions in the "freezeway", the meeting was a success. The Award of Merit honoree, Kirsten Osen, was a delightful person and an inspiration for any scientist. We all owe Allen Ryan a debt of gratitude for the excellent organization of MWM and all his years of service to the ARO. Next year the executive committee guarantees a return to balmy weather!

My first official duty as President of the ARO is to make new committee assignments. Our continued growth has necessitated reorganization of the Program Advisory Committee. In addition to an increasing number of abstracts, an increasing level of sophistication and specialization of our science continues to challenge the new Program Committee that is organized by the ARO President each year. Working independently, Charlie Liberman and I came to a simultaneous, independent conclusion: a change in the Program Advisory Committee structure and function was desperately needed. Charlie's recognition was based on experience, while mine was based on how was I going to be able to deal with the possibility of organizing 1,000 diverse abstracts into a coherent program. Charlie and I developed a plan that has the support of the Executive Council. Beginning with the Midwinter Meeting in 1996, a standing Program Committee will be responsible for the organization of the poster and platform sessions. In addition, the Program Committee will continue to advise the President on the development of symposia, workshops and special sessions. There are several advantages to a standing committee including a group that will work to improve our programs, have a memory for what needs to be accomplished, and be able to more appropriately group abstracts with similar themes.

The Program Committee will consist of a chair and eleven members serving staggered three year terms. All will be experienced scientists with expertise in twelve different areas of research. Charlie Liberman will chair the committee for one more year. Donata Oertel has accepted the position of Chair-Elect and will then assume the position of committee Chair for the next three years. Other members of the committee and the ending dates of their appointments include: Anthony Cacace (96), Daniel Marcus (96), Steven Myers (96), Art Popper (96), Alec Salt (96), Paul Fuchs (97), Erv Hafter (98), JoAnn McGee (98), Steve Highstein (99), Susan Norton (99), and Steve Rauch (99).

This years abstract form (due in the ARO office on October 1, 1995 instead of September 1) will contain a box with different research categories. Authors are required to select one category that fits their research. This information will be used for review as well program assignment. The Program Committee will adjust the categories as necessary in the future. Please have patience with the committee as it takes over this important and overwhelming task.

We have included four targeted sessions for next years meeting; Sound Localization: Physiology and Psychophysics; Cochlear Prostheses; Aging; and Clinical Outcomes Research. Clinical outcomes research is an emerging area of research that has increasing clinical importance. Those interested in participating in targeted sessions should mark the appropriate session on the abstract information form. Targeted sessions require at least 10 participants. If you know of colleagues who are working in the above areas, encourage them to sign-up for a targeted session.

Finally, our growing success is stressing the available facilities to the limits. Several options are being explored by the Executive Committee. Until an adequate replacement facility is identified, the Executive Committee would encourage participants to sign-up for poster sessions in order to eliminate the need for conflicting podium sessions. Poster sessions provide more flexibility for the Program Committee, but also generate more information exchange among colleagues. Many members believe the poster sessions are more valuable than slide presentations. In any event, please consider this alternative for next year since the beach at the Tradewinds is wonderful!

Editor's Column

The ARO home page on the internet continues to develop. It now contains the complete abstracts for the 1994 and 1995 Midwinter meetings and the titles and authors for the 1993 meeting. Abstracts can now be obtained by session rather than having to access all of them at once. The membership list now includes electronic mail addresses that are set to allow the delivery of an electronic mail message directly from your World Wide Web software. The easiest way to initiate an electronic mail message to an ARO member for whom you do not have an address is to open the ARO home page, find the member, and press on his or her electronic mail address listed after the name. At this time, about half of the membership has an electronic mail address and this is likely to increase soon when the next directory update is completed. I also have added connections to the home pages of the laboratories of individual ARO members and links to other sites on the World Wide Web as well.

The most interesting new development is the addition of a mechanism that allows the submission of an abstract directly over the internet. I have completed, with the generous help of Stephen Neely, a prototype form that is operational. Though this method of submitting an abstract will not be official for the 1996 meeting, it is available now to try out on an experimental basis. So, if you have access to the World Wide Web, and if you wish to see what it will be like to submit an abstract over the internet, call it up (http://www.aro.org/showcase/aro) and try it out. I am predicting that this method will become an official method for the 1997 meeting.

Why is this important? Fewer errors, of course, but more importantly, we should be able to delay the deadline for submission of an abstract by a substantial amount. The current deadline, October 1, could be pushed back to as late as December. In addition, the amount of time between submitting an abstract and receiving it at the ARO office will be the same for all authors regardless of where in the world they may be located. I hope you find these new developments beneficial.

Internet Workshop a Success

Attendees of the 1995 Midwinter Meeting were given an impressive glimpse of the future of electronic communications in the form of the special workshop titled "Information Sharing via the Internet". The workshop, which ran from 7-10 pm on Wednesday evening, February 8, 1995, was originally suggested by Gerry Fox. The session was moderated by Walt Jesteadt and included Fred Wightman, Stephen Neely and Gerald Popelka as presenters. The high-tech performance dazzled and impressed a packed audience of well over 200. With the aid of a high-resolution video projection system, the screen of a lap-top computer was displayed for all to see. With an on-line connection, via modem, a real-time demonstration of the vast capabilities of the Internet was given. During the presentation, computers throughout the world were accessed in an exciting, and technically flawless performance. Dr. Wightman described how the present-day Internet had evolved, which was followed by Dr. Neely, who gave a description of the fast-growing World-Wide Web. Indeed, for "newbies" to the World-Wide Web, such as myself, the system presently in place at the Boy's Town National Research Hospital (available at "http://www.boystown.org/") provides an excellent Otolaryngology-related orientation to the Web. Dr. Popelka subsequently demonstrated how electronic communication was already affecting how research findings are being published. The ARO has been taking a leading role in this direction. An example was the fact that this year the meeting abstracts were made available electronically well before the printed copies were ready. The session was a resounding success, with nothing but positive comments from the departing crowd who had given up their last evening of the meeting to the event. Indeed, many chose not to leave and stayed around to discuss the impact of this new technology and to continue the on-line demonstration. There is no doubt this technology will affect how all of us present our research findings to our colleagues and to the public at large. The workshop provided an enjoyable and informative forum to bring us up to date on this fast-changing new medium. Alec N. Salt, Ph.D.

Current Issues

Minority Fellows Attend ARO Meeting

The ARO 1995 Mid-Winter Meeting was attended by six (6) minority pre and post-doctoral fellows. The one Pre-Doctoral Fellow was: Deanne B. Hall, M.S., Department of Audiology & Speech Sciences, Michigan State University. Five Post-Doctoral Fellows included: Christina Bertolotto, M.D., Department of Physiology, UCLA School of Medicine, Los Angeles; Christian S. Head, M.D., Division of Head and Neck Surgery, UCLA School of Medicine, Los Angeles; Dario Kunar, M.D., Dept. of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, Johns Hopkins University Medical School, Baltimore; Kenneth A. Newkirk, M.D., Dept. of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, Georgetown University Medical School; and Jenifer D. Porter, Ph.D., Dept. of Otolaryngology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh.

The travel awards provided $800.00 per fellow and is supported by a grant from the National Institute on Deafness & other Communication Disorders (NIDCD). Funds are used to partially defray travel, meals and lodging costs of fellows in attendance at the Meeting. The Minority Fellowship Committee appointed by the ARO President selects the awardees. The award is intended to increase the participation and preparation of pre- and post-doctoral minority scientists in fields attendant to otolaryngology. A total of 18 fellows have now been supported over a three-year period.

Individuals selected are judged according to academic background, experience and research interests. Prospective candidates submit to the Committee a curriculum vitae, statement regarding research interests, two letters of recommendation and an indication of racial ethnicity.

Any member of the ARO may nominate a candidate. The deadline for nominations/receipt of materials for the 1996 Mid-Winter Meeting is September 1, 1995. Successful candidates will be notified NLT November 1, 1995. Nomination materials should be sent to: ARO Business Office,

c/o Ms. Michele Johnson, 431 East Locust, Suite 202, Des Moines, IA 50309, Phone: (515) 243-1558, Fax: (515) 243-2049.

Ruggero Recovers

Friends and colleagues of Dr. Mario Ruggero are relieved to hear that he is expected to make a complete recovery from a the near-deadly ambush that took place on the Northwestern University campus on Thursday, March 9, 1995.

Dr. Ruggero was shot four times while crossing a parking lot near his office. The assailant was identified by the victim as Dr. John Costalupes, a man who worked for him at the University of Minnesota during 1985-86. Following the attack Costalupes drove back to Minnesota where the next day he attempted to force his way into the Medical School Dean's office, was intercepted by a campus police officer,tried to escape, and then took his own life.

We wish for Dr. Ruggero's quick recovery and look forward to seeing him at the 1996 mid-winter meeting of the ARO. Dr. Ruggero can be reached by e-mail at:

mruggero@merle.acns.nwu.edu.

Teich Elected Fellow

Professor Malvin C. Teich, a faculty member in the Departments of Electrical Engineering and Applied Physics at Columbia University, has been elected a Fellow of the Acoustical Society of America. The Certificate of Fellowship was presented on November 30, 1994 at the Plenary Session of the Society's Meeting in Austin, Texas. The citation reads: "For contributions to the understanding of the auditory neural spike train."

Tyler Receives Award

Richard S. Tyler, Professor and Director of Audiology, of the Department of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery at The University of Iowa was recently presented with the Special Recognition Award from the American Tinnitus Association for his "personal commitment in support of tinnitus research & education and for professional dedication to advancing the fight against Tinnitus". The award was presented during the annual conference "Management of the Tinnitus Patient" held every fall in Iowa City, IA.

Lim Receives Guyot Prize

David J. Lim, M.D., Chief, Laboratory of Cellular Biology, Division of Intramural Research, NIDCD, and professor-emeritus of otolaryngology, at Ohio State University, was selected as the 1994 recipient of the Guyot Prize from the University of Groningen, the Netherlands. The award was presented to Dr. Lim on September 5, 1994.

The Guyot prize was established in 1914 by Mr. H.D. Guyot, the founder of the Royal Institute for the Deaf in Groningen. It is given every five years to a person who has made an important contribution in the field of otolaryngology and audiology. The first prize was awarded in 1914 to Robert Barany, Vienna, and sixth prize in 1939 was awarded to G. von Bekesy, Budapest, both of whom later received the Nobel Prize. Other distinguished recipients of this prize include Professor C.S. Hallpike, London, Professor Hans Engstrom, Uppsala, and Professor J. Tonndorf, New York.

Dr. Lim is devoting full time to research, which includes the identification of a candidate antigen for the development of a nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae conjugate vaccine against otitis media in infants.

Wilson Increments Program for Research
into the Causes and Treatment of Tinnitus

According to the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, tinnitus - ringing or other sounds in the ear when no outside source is present - is experienced by at least 15% of the American population. For over 10% of these individuals, the tinnitus is so severe that it disrupts their daily lives. Unfortunately, little is known about the causes of these head noises and no specific treatments exist. Research is the key to making progress in our understanding and treatment of this affliction.

For over 30 years the Deafness Research Foundation, a voluntary non-profit organization, has awarded grants for innovative research into the causes, treatment and prevention of deafness and other ear disorders. Beginning in 1995, outstanding tinnitus research applications that cannot be funded under the Foundation's normal budget, will be considered for funding through the Wilson Increments. Initially grants will be limited to $15,000 per year, consistent with the dollar amount of current DRF grants. All applications will be reviewed by the Foundation's Scientific Review Committee and evaluated on their scientific merit. The Wilson Increments are made possible through the generosity of Mr. Robert W. Wilson, an investor and philanthropist who has suffered from tinnitus for 16 years. Mr. Wilson hopes his gift will spur increased research into the causes and development of tinnitus by attracting more applications for grants to the Deafness Research Foundation.

The deadline for research grant applications is July 15th. For more information about how to apply contact Deafness Research Foundation at (800) 535-3323.

Temporal Bone Database:
A Resource For All Researchers

If you need information on temporal bone histopathology specimens for your research project, presentation or grant application, call The Registry's staff at the toll-free number listed below for a database search. The Registry's database contains records from 6,154 cases (over 12,000 specimens) from eighteen U.S. temporal bone laboratories and collections. The database will give you access to demographic, histopathologic, and when available, processing and historical information on the catalogued specimens. We will supply you with a printout of the search and direct you to the appropriate collection for further study. The table below lists the number of specimens in the database for several common and rare otologic disorders.

Interested researchers may request database searches free of charge. Call (800) 822-1327 from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. EST. Registry staff will provide you with up-to-date information regarding temporal bone and associated brain tissue specimens and direct you to the appropriate collections for study.

Disorder (Number of Specimens)
Acoustic Neuroma (51)
Acoustic Trauma (61)
Alport's Syndrome (20)
Cochlear Implant (24)
Cogan's Syndrome (2424)
Chronic Otitis Media (952)
Cupulolithiasis (BPV) (30)
Endolymphatic Hydrops (304)
Glomus Tumors (20)
Labyrinthitis (272)
Mondini Anomaly (41)
Otosclerosis (741)
Ototoxicity (222)
Paget's Disease (46)
Presbycusis (570)
Temporal Bone Fracture (104)

Listserver Available for Noise-Induced
Hearing Loss Research

Rick Davis of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health announces the availability of a listserver for people interested in noise-induced hearing loss, basic and applied research. The list is available to anyone with Internet e-mail capabilities. Interested individuals may subscribe to the list by sending an e-mail message to the address

LISTS@LIST.CDC.GOV

with the one line message:

subscribe noise_and_hearing

If you would rather receive only one mailing per day you may subscribe to the digest by sending an e-mail message to the same address with the single line message:

subscribe noise_and_hearing-digest

To post questions or comments to all list subscribers direct your e-mail to:

noise_and_hearing @ LIST.CDC.GOV

The goal of the list is to provide a communication resource for basic and applied researchers working in noise effects on the ear. We are especially interested in researchers using animal models. For questions or comments contact Rick Davis at (513) 533-8142 or rrd1@niobbs1.em.cdc.gov.

Reorganization of DRG
Referral and Review Branch

In response to the Clinton Administration's executive order to reduce the number of advisory committees throughout the Federal Government, the DRG Referral and Review Branch (RRB) was reorganized in early 1994. RRB previously had 7 Review Sections within which there were 84 chartered Study Sections, some of which were divided into subcommittees, making a total of some 100 operative Study Sections. The official name of the Study Sections was Scientific Review Groups, which - in the case of grant (as opposed to contracts) application review were called Initial Review Groups. As of the reorganization, RRB has 6 Review Sections within which there are 19 Initial Review Groups. Within these 19 Initial Review Groups, there are about 100 operative Study Sections. Note that in the past Initial Review Groups were informally referred to as Study Sections. In the reorganized system, "Initial Review Group" is no longer synonymous with "Study Section". The reorganization gives DRG greater flexibility because it allows members of Study Sections to move readily from one Study Section to another within a given Initial Review Group. Any member of a Study Section can act as a full voting member of any other Study Section within a given Initial Review Group.

Battey to Head NIDCD Intramural Program

James F. Battey, M.D., Ph.D., was named as the Director of Intramural Research for the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD), one of the institutes of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). In making the announcement, James B. Snow, Jr., M.D., Director of the NIDCD noted that Dr. Battey has "made substantial contributions to understanding of biological responses through molecular genetic analysis. He will bring distinguished expertise and leadership to research opportunities in human communication. We are delighted that he has accepted."

Animals in Research

During the Midwinter Meeting, the Committee met to discuss issues surrounding the use of animals in teaching and research, as they relate to the ARO. It was recognized that the animal issues are part of a broader concern about biomedical research and teaching in general, and, therefore, there needs to be good communication between this committee and the ARO Education Committee. Sheryl Coombs will serve as liaison between the two committees. The Animal Use Handbook, which was compiled by the Committee several years ago, and which is somewhat out of date, will be updated in the coming year.

The Committee also wishes to remind ARO members that it is that time of year when animal rights organizations are laying plans for demonstrations on campuses and other research institutions as part of World Animal Liberation Week, April 24 - April 28. Those who use animals in teaching and research should be particularly vigilant around this time and should alert the institution's administrative officers and security personnel about potential disruptions of teaching and research activities.

To help you when, and if, confronted on these issues, the Foundation for Biomedical Research (FBR) has, for $.25/copy, a new brochure entitled "Frequently Asked Questions About Animal Research". It is an excellent resource and educational tool. This and other very useful information can be obtained by calling or writing to FBR. Address: 818 Connecticut Avenue NW, Suite 303, Washington, DC 20006. Phone: (202) 457-0654, FAX: (202) 457 -0659.

As a reminder that the animal rights movement is still very much on the scene, we include highlights of some of the activities of animal rights groups over the past months.

The Ohio Supreme Court ruled on December 20, 1994 that Ohio State University must release the names and work addresses of animal research scientists to a lawyer who requested the information under the state public records law. This past spring animal rights groups initially asked for all OSU records from September 1991 to May 1994 regarding public record requests, policies and handling from animal research protocols. OSU provided 92 pages of documents, but redacted the names and addresses of researchers in an effort to protect the privacy and personal safety of those individuals. Some researchers had previously been harassed at work and at their homes by animal rights activists.

The University of Washington lost its appeal on a suit, brought by an animal rights group, involving public access to unfunded grant proposals. Primatologist Jane Goodall has issued a formal statement calling for public meetings on college and university campuses regarding the use of animals in biomedical research. Her "Call for Public Forums" was sent to scholars and researchers in the United States and Canada along with a cover letter asking recipients to circulate the statement and lend their help in organizing the meetings. In response, NABR, the National Association for Biomedical Research, has invited Goodall to participate in a conference to be held in Washington, D.C. in early May.

PETA, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, the nation's largest animal rights organization, reported 1994 income of $11.9 million on top of a beginning fund balance of $5.7 million. While both figures were down from the previous year, the war chest remains quite sizeable.

Washington University, St. Louis, was the target of a media campaign waged by the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine in January against the use of animals in medical education. PCRM is an animal rights organization headed by Neal Barnard and affiliated with PETA. It published a full-page ad in the St. Louis newspapers attacking Washington University for their use of dogs to teach physiology and held a press conference the following day to call for the end of animal laboratories.

According to the Los Angeles Times, the animal rights organization Mercy Crusade is under investigation by federal and state authorities after the group's leader purchased an estimated $200,000 worth of weapons. James McCourt, Mercy Crusade's chairman, said he purchased the weapons for `law inforcement purposes' in accordance with California's 80-year-old law that allows animal welfare groups to appoint humane officers. Although it was legal for McCourt to buy the weapons, including modified versions of assault rifles, the Federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms is still investigating why an animal rights organization would want military-style weapons that would give them more firepower than a police SWAT team.

1995 Deafness Research Foundation
Otologic Research Grant Recipients

Twenty-five members of the Association for Research in Otolaryngology were among the 54 recipients of the 1995 Deafness Research Foundation Otologic Research Grants. Nearly $800,000 was awarded to 44 universities and medical institutions throughout the U.S. and Canada for new and innovative research into the causes, treatment and prevention of hearing loss and other serious ear disorders. The deadline for first year applicants is July 15th for awards to beginning January 1 of the following year. For further information about submitting an application, call toll-free (800) 535-3323 (Voice/TDD).

Jose G. Assouline, Ph.D.
University of Iowa
Effects of Electrical Stimulation on Deafened Young Animals

Flint A. Boettcher, Ph.D.
Medical University of South Carolina
Protection from Noise-Induced Hearing Loss

Stephen P. Cass, M.D.
University of Pittsburgh
Gentamicin Sensitivity of Vestibular Nerve Fibers

Robin L. Davis, Ph.D.
Rutgers University
The Role of Extracellular Matrix Molecules and Integrin
Receptors in Stria Vascularis Morphogenesis In Vitro

Marian J. Drescher, Ph.D.
Wayne State University School of Medicine
Adenlyl Cyclase in Inner-Ear Sensory Epithelia

Richard R. Gacek, M.D.
State University of New York Health Science Center
at Syracuse
Ultrastructural Changes in Superior Vestibulo-Ocular Neurons and the Vestibular Nerve in the Cat Following Unilateral and Bilateral Ablation

Eri Hashino, Ph.D.
State University of New York at Buffalo
Resistance of Regenerated Hair Cells to
Aminoglycoside Ototoxicity

Kenneth R. Henry, Ph.D.
University of California, Davis
Enhancement of Cochlear Nerve Responses

Jer-Min Huang, M.D., Ph.D.
Louisiana State University Medical Center
Cochlear Expression in the Presence of a
Recessive Deafness Gene

Gordon B. Hughes, M.D.
Cleveland Clinic Foundation
Generation and Characterization of T Cell Clones Reactive
to Determinants in Inner Ear Tissue

Robert K. Jackler, M.D.
University of California, San Francisco
The Effect of Epidermal Growth Factor Upon Cholesteatoma

Margaret M. Jastreboff, Ph.D.
University of Maryland at Baltimore
Tinnitus-Related GABA Modulation

Golda A. Kevetter, Ph.D.
University of Texas Medical Branch
Neurotransmitter Regulation During Vestibular Compensation

Anil K. Lalwani, M.D.
University of California, San Francisco
Genetic Linkage Analysis of a Three Generation Family with Hereditary Cochleosaccular Degeneration

Michael J. Mulroy, Ph.D.
Medical College of Georgia
Cellular Mechanisms of Noise-Induced Temporary Deafness

John G. Oas, M.D.
Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary
Measurement of Human Otolith Function Using Linear Motion

Kevin K. Ohlemiller, Ph.D.
Central Institute for the Deaf
An Animal Model of Usher's Syndrome

Nancy Sculerati, M.D.
New York University Medical Center
X-Chromosomal DNA Content and Parental Origin as Determinants of Hearing Loss in Turner Syndrome

Susan E. Shore, Ph.D.
Medical College of Ohio
Forward Masking in Cochlear Nucleus Units to Sequential Electrical Stimuli

Bernd Sokolowski, Ph.D.
University of South Florida
Growth Factor Regulation of Ionic Currents in Hair Cells Grown In Vitro

Francis A. Spelman, Ph.D.
University of Washington
Quantitative and Comparative Three-Dimensional Analysis of the Anatomy of the Mammalian Cochlea

George A. Spirou, Ph.D.
West Virginia University
Three-Dimensional Frequency and Cell Density Mapping of the Dorsal Cochlear Nucleus

Hinrich Staecker, M.D.
Albert Einstein College of Medicine
The Role of the Brain Derived Neurotrophic Factor TRK B Tyrosine Kinase Neurotrophin Receptor System in the Development of Auditory Neurons

Yvonne M. Szymko, Ph.D.
Institute for Sensory Research
Effects of Noise and Pharmacological Agents in Mechanisms of Cochlear Frequency and Intensity Coding

Shu Hui Wu, M.D.
Carleton University
Brain Slice Studies of the Dorsal Nucleus of the Lateral
Lemniscus

CONFERENCES AND WORKSHOPS

1995 Conference on Implantable Auditory Prostheses

The 1995 Conference on Implantable Auditory Prostheses will be held August 20-24, 1995 at the beautiful Asilomar Conference Center located on the beach in Pacific Grove, California. Seventh in a series of biennial research conferences focusing on basic science, this meeting will provide a forum for close interaction among scientists in all disciplines related to the field of cochlear implants. The program will consist of invited presentations by approximately 40 leading researchers from around the world, and will allow adequate time for in-depth discussion in order to encourage serious scientific exchange of information among all participants. Session topics will focus on recent findings from research in physiology, pathology, mathematical modeling, psychophysics, signal processing, speech reception, speech production and plasticity. Facilities will also be available for presentation of contributed posters. The Whitaker Foundation will fund a limited number of student scholarships to support travel and Conference participation. Graduate students and postdoctoral students (with no more than 2 years of postdoctoral experience) are encouraged to apply. Deadline for receipt of scholarship applications is May 15. Conference Chair: Dr. Patricia A. Leake; Conference Co-Chair: Dr. Charles W. Parkins; Administrative Co-Chair: Dr. Robert V. Shannon. For more information, please contact: Alena Wilson, Conference Coordinator, House Ear Institute, 2100 W. 3rd Street, Los Angeles, CA, 90057. Telephone: (213) 353-7086; FAX (213) 413-0950; E-Mail: alena@hei.org.

Fifth International Tinnitus Seminar

The American Tinnitus Association is sponsoring the Fifth International Tinnitus Seminar to be held in Portland, Oregon, from July 12-15, 1995. The 1995 Tinnitus Seminar features cutting edge research while at the same time integrating research findings to clinical treatments. Diverse poster presentations highlight specific research questions and findings, all in a format that allows the audience time to absorb, react, and discuss the data one-on-one with individual presenters. CEU credits available. Please send requests for registration materials to: American Tinnitus Association, P.O. Box 5, Portland, OR 97207-0005, (503) 248-9985, FAX (503) 248-0024, E-Mail: reichg@ohsu.edu.

Call For Papers: Conference on The Molecular Biology of Hearing and Deafness

The Deafness Research Foundation and University of California San Diego are sponsoring a second meeting on the applications of molecular biology to the investigation of the auditory system at the Hyatt Regency Hotel, Bethesda, Maryland, October 6-8, 1995. A panel of distinguished invited speakers will present papers on the following topics: Regulation of Auditory Development, Growth Factors, Neuronal Receptors, Ion Channels/Transport Systems, Molecular Motors/Hair Cell Mechanics/ Second Messenger/Nuclear Signaling Pathways, Regulation of Gene Expression-Including Transcription Factors, Molecular Genetics and Gene Mapping, Gene Cloning in the Normal Labryinth, Molecular Biology of Temporal Bone Disease, and Clinical Applications of Molecular Biology in Deafness-Including Gene Therapy. The program will also include free papers reporting research on the molecular basis for hearing and deafness. Short courses on molecular methodology will be available. CME credits will be offered. Registration deadline is July 5, 1995. Please send or FAX requests for information and registration materials to: Organizing Committee, c/o Allen Ryan, Second Conference on the Molecular Biology of Hearing and Deafness, UCSD, OCME, 9500 Gilman Drive, 0617, La Jolla, CA 92093-0617 (619) 534-3940, FAX (619) 534-7672

An Advanced Workshop in Auditory Evoked Potentials and Otoacoustic Emissions

Kresge Hearing Research Laboratory of the South is sponsoring a continuing education course, "An Advanced Workshop in Auditory Evoked Potentials and Otoacoustic Emissions" on May 19-21, 1995. Course Directors: Charles Berlin, Ph.D. and Linda Hood, Ph.D., Guest Speaker, Terry Picton, M.D., Ph.D.; ASHA CEU's available. Contact Course Coordinator, Kresge Hearing Research Laboratory, LSU Medical Center, 2020 Gravier St., Ste. A, New Orleans, LA 70112; (504) 568-4785, ext. 243; Fax (504) 568-4460.

Identification and Management of Hearing-Impaired Infants and Children: ABR, Emissions, Computer Assisted Behavioral Testing

Kresge Hearing Research Laboratory of the South is sponsoring a continuing education course, "Identification and Management of Hearing-Impaired Infants and Children: ABR, Emissions, Computer Assisted Behavioral Testing" on June 23-27, 1995. Course Directors: Charles Berlin, Ph.D. and Linda Hood, Ph.D., Guest Speaker, Rebecca Eilers, Ph.D.; ASHA CEU's available. Contact Course Coordinator, Kresge Hearing Research Laboratory, LSU Medical Center, 2020 Gravier St., Ste. A, New Orleans, LA 70112; (504) 568-4785, ext. 243; Fax (504) 568-4460.

International Hearing Aid Conference III

An international conference on hearing aids will be held at the University of Iowa June 15-18, 1995. The guest of honor is Dr. Brian C. J. Moore from Cambridge University, England. Previous guest of honor include Dr. Denis Byrne from Chatswood, Australia and Dr. Renier Plomp from Soesterberg, Holland, The Netherlands.

This year's conference is titled "New Directions For Clinical Practice". Dr. Moore, an expert on auditory perception with a strong background in applied research, will present new information on the perceptual consequences of cochlear hearing loss and the practical and theoretical application this has on hearing aid design and use. The focus of this conference will be on bridging the gap between current auditory theory and applied clinical practice. Presentations will include current perspectives on pediatric hearing aid fitting strategies, fitting modern non-linear hearing aids and information on the new wave of subjective comparison scales that are emerging from the FDA mandate for clinical trials and outcome measures. Pragmatic issues related to the successful integration of modern programmable hearing aids into an existing clinical setting will be presented by experienced private practitioners. Based on past successes, we have expanded the time for hands on workshops where manufacturers will provide information and training on their latest technology. Special breakfast meetings will allow manufacturers to highlight their perspectives on the current direction of hearing aid design and development. A variety of social events are planned with the intent of facilitating individual interactions among faculty and conference attendees. Scheduled faculty include: Sheila Dalzell, David Fabry, Francis Kuk, David Preeves, Pat Stelmachowicz and Aaron Thornton, as well as Ruth Bentler, Donald Schum, George Haskell, Aaron Parkinson and Richard Tyler from the University of Iowa. For further information contact Sue Templin at (319) 356-2471 or Fax (319) 353-6739.

Hearing Aid Research and Development Conference

The first Biennial Hearing Aid Research and Development Conference wiil be held September 11-13, 1995 at the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Maryland. The National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders. (NIDCD), National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) are sponsoring this national forum for the presentation of ongoing or completed research relevant to hearing aid design and function. The objectives are to share and critically examine, in a setting that stimulates creative debate and interactions, current research relevant to speech understanding in noise, amplification and signal processing. Topics to be addressed include: speech perception, psychophysics, physiology of the auditory system, technological advances in devices and clinical trials. The agenda for this 2 1/2 day conference will include: plenary session, formal presentations, poster sessions and exhibits. For more information contact TASCON, Inc. at (301) 907-3844

Symposium on Otitis Media

The 6th International Symposium on Recent Advances in Otitis Media will be held in Fort Lauderdale, Florida from June 4-8, 1995. It is sponsored by The University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Center for Continuing Education in the Health Sciences and Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, Department of Pediatric Otolaryngology. The topics included are: Epidemiology, Anatomy, Biochemistry, Screening/Diagnosis, Tubal Function, Immunology, Microbiology, Prevention, Management, Pathogenesis, Sequelae, Animal Models, Pathology, Molecular Biology and Genetics. For more information contact: University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Attn: Trish Smith, Department of Conference Management, Nese-Barkan Building, Fifth Floor, 3811 O'Hara Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, Telephone (412) 647-8126, FAX (412) 647-8222.

Research Conference on Modeling Sensorineural Hearing Loss

Many people who do hearing research are involved in various ways in modeling sensorineural hearing loss. Some of these efforts are focused on simulating hearing losses as closely as possible in listeners with normal hearing as a means of controlling for level effects. Others are concerned with predicting performance for listeners with hearing loss under various adverse listening conditions or with predicting the degree of hearing loss that will occur under various noise exposure conditions and the relation between temporary and permanent threshold shift. Still others are concerned with models and data at the neural or mechanical level that have direct implications for our understanding of the properties of sensorineural hearing loss. Finally, there is great interest in optimum demonstrations of the properties of residual hearing for various degrees of hearing loss, so that those with normal hearing can gain a better understanding of what it is like to have a hearing loss.

A conference to discuss these issues will be held at the Boys Town Conference Center on June 10-11, 1995. Recent data and models will be presented in a format similar to that of the European hearing research meetings to encourage discussion. If you are interested in attending and are not already on our mailing list, please contact Walt Jesteadt, BTNRH, 555 N. 30th Street, Omaha, NE 68131 or send E-Mail to Jesteadt@Boystown.org

Scanning Microscopy International

A program on Inner Ear will be held during the Scanning Microscopy 1995 meeting (tutorials on May 6 and 7; scientific programs from May 8 to May 11). The program organizers are Prof. Yasuo Harada, Dr. Robert V. Harrison, Dr. Sven Rydmarker, and Prof. Michael L. Wiederhold. The scope of the Inner Ear program encompasses all areas of microscopy and techniques in which microscopy and/or microanalysis is a major component. This includes light, electron (both transmission and scanning) and other microscopy and microanalytical methods. SMI will also be sponsoring a separate international meeting: 14th Pfefferkorn Conference on the Science of Biological Specimen Preparation for Microscopy Preparation for Microscopy and Microanalysis from Aug. 6-11,1995 at the Shrine of Our Lady of the Snows in Belleville, Illinois. A separate flier is available on request. For more information about the programs and publications of Scanning Microscopy, please contact Dr. Om Johari at Scanning Microscopy International, P.O. Box 66507, Chicago (A.M.F. O'Hare), IL 60666-0507, (708) 529-6677/FAX (708) 980-6698; E-mail 73211.647@compuserve.com.

Sixth Annual Meeting of the American Society of Neurophysiological Monitoring

May 18-20, 1995: Sixth Annual Meeting of the American Society of Neurophysiological Monitoring (ASNM) at the Miyako Hotel, San Francisco, California. For more information and Call For Papers form, please write: Gary P. Jacobson, Ph.D., Director, Division of Audiology, Henry Ford Hospital, 2799 West Grand Blvd., Detroit, MI 48202 or call: (313) 876-1089.

New Directions in Vestibular Research

A New York Academy of Sciences Conference will be held June 25-27, 1995 at The Rockefeller University in New York City. This conference provides a vehicle for dissemination of advances to the larger vestibular community. It brings together investigators who laid the groundwork for vestibular research with those on the cutting edge of the latest findings in the field, to provide comprehensive coverage of brainstem vestibular function. The fundamental biochemical, biophysical, genetic, and molecular mechanisms underlying nerve brain function are the major focuses of brain research today. Speakers are leaders in various aspects of vestibular research--the "end organ," the central vestibular system, the vestibulo-cerebellum, and the pharmacology of the system. The program provides an interesting mix of cellular and systems approaches, touching on new developments in this field. This meeting will bring forward new techniques and strategies for use in the variety of arenas in which vestibular research plays an increasingly important role, including basic research, clinical medicine, occupational settings and space exploration.