2026 Award of Merit Winner

Professor Emeritus of Otolaryngology,

University of Michigan & Oregon Health & Science University

Bio:

Alfred (Fred) Lee Nuttall is Professor Emeritus of Otolaryngology at both the University of Michigan and Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU). He earned his B.S. in Electrical Engineering from Lowell Technological Institute in 1965 and completed his doctorate in Bioengineering at the University of Michigan in 1972, focusing on middle ear biomechanics. Following postdoctoral studies at the Kresge Hearing Research Institute, he joined the faculty there, beginning a lifelong exploration of cochlear physiology. His early work included groundbreaking studies of basilar membrane vibration, intracellular responses of inner hair cells, and the development of new methods to measure cochlear blood flow—lines of investigation that became the foundation of his career.

In 1996, Fred moved west to OHSU in Portland, Oregon, where he became Director of the Oregon Hearing Research Center and Vice Chair for Research in the Department of Otolaryngology. As the Jack Vernon Endowed Professor, he spent nearly three decades recruiting and mentoring a vibrant community of faculty, visiting scientists, and trainees. Many of these trainees went on to lead laboratories worldwide. Through his gift for collaboration, Fred also forged lasting partnerships with national and international colleagues, strengthening the global auditory research community.

Fred’s experimental contributions fall broadly into two areas: cochlear microvascular physiology and mechanics of the organ of Corti. He is perhaps the foremost contributor to our understanding of cochlear blood flow in vivo, developing and applying innovative techniques such as laser Doppler flowmetry and optical coherence tomography (OCT). His studies revealed how flow is altered by sound, vasoactive agents, hypoxia, and hair cell dysfunction, deepening knowledge of cochlear vascular homeostasis. This body of work enjoyed uninterrupted NIDCD funding for 42 years.

With the conclusion of his vascular research program, Fred intensified his focus on cochlear mechanics. He pioneered the use of laser interferometry to measure cochlear motion, catalyzing an explosion of similar studies in laboratories worldwide. Later, he adapted OCT from ophthalmology for imaging and measuring tissue motion in the cochlea. This innovation enabled structural mapping of organ of Corti motion, demonstrating, for example, that the reticular lamina moves with different magnitude and phase compared with the basilar membrane—an insight that reshaped the field. His work in cochlear mechanics is now in its 47th year of continuous NIDCD R01 funding.

Fred’s contributions extend well beyond his research. As Director, he elevated the Oregon Hearing Research Center to international prominence through strategic recruitment and support of faculty. As a mentor, he trained students and fellows from across Asia, Europe, and North America, many of whom now hold leadership positions in auditory science. He has served extensively on NIDCD study sections, received the Claude Pepper Award from NIDCD, and organized the Mechanics of Hearing Workshop in 2005.

Over his career, Fred has authored 246 peer-reviewed publications and presented 495 abstracts, including 290 at meetings of the Association for Research in Otolaryngology (ARO).

Submit a Nomination

CALL FOR NOMINATIONS: ARO AWARD OF MERIT

The Association for Research in Otolaryngology will begin accepting nominations for the 2026 ARO Award of Merit beginning on May 19, 2025.

REMINDER:  ARO membership is not required for nominators or nominees.
Please read carefully before submitting.

NOMINATION Requirements:

Nominations should include the following:

A letter of nomination that includes a description of the research contributions
The nominee’s CV
One to two additional letters of support. (These can have multiple signatures if desired.)

Nominations are selected by the ARO Award Committee and submitted to the ARO Council for approval.  A nominee’s package will be considered for up to 3 years in sequence; the package can be updated for the second and third years.  Nominations submitted in previous years without meeting the new standards should be resubmitted.