Course Overview

Molecular Otology is a new field of Otolaryngology that encompasses an understanding of the molecular physiology of the inner ear and development of precision therapies for patients. With gene therapy trials for hearing loss underway, there is a need for a specialized course to educate surgeons in the theory and application of MolecularOtology.

This unique course leverages the expertise of the Boston Children’s team, which has expertise in gene therapy clinical trials. We aim to provide practical experience to surgeons, helping them better evaluate and treat patients who may be candidates for these innovative therapies

Course Directors:
- Eliot Shearer, MD PhD (Boston Children’s Hospital/Harvard Medical School, USA) 
- Aaron Remenschneider, MD MPH (Boston Children’s Hospital/Harvard Medical School, USA)
- Hubert Löwenheim, MD PhD (University of Tübingen, Germany)

Target Audience: Otolaryngologists in practice and in training

Key Questions:
- What molecular inner ear therapies are currently in clinical trials?
- What therapies are on the horizon?
- What are the relevant approaches that surgeons should be familiar with?
- How do we counsel patients in this quickly changing landscape?
- Will gene therapy replace cochlear implantation?

Areas of Focus: 
- Human genetics of hearing loss
- Clinical evaluation for hearing loss
- Rational design of inner ear gene therapies
- Animal and in vitro models for molecular therapy
- Results of clinical trials to date
- Design of clinical trials and clinical considerations for enrollment
- Surgical approaches to the inner ear: instruction and optional hands-on training

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