Perspectives on Auditory Translational Research

Abstract

Translational research encompasses a spectrum beginning with basic scientific inquiry, extending into applied assessment in clinical trial evaluations, and ultimately extending to clinical application and assessment of the impact on public health. Translational research occurs at the boundaries between each of these steps, with specific activities required to move from basic science into clinical testing (translation 1, T1), from clinical testing into clinical best practice guidelines (translation 2, T2), from guidelines into healthcare practice (translation 3, T3), and from clinical practice into public health benefit (translation 4, T4). This volume on translational research introduces scientists and clinicians to this process via specific examples across current "hot topics" in auditory research. Among the topics are examples from central auditory processing disorder, sudden hearing loss, noise-induced hearing loss, tinnitus, cisplatin-induced hearing loss, molecular therapies for hair cell regeneration, and next-generation novel cochlear implant devices relying on optical stimulation. A brief review of each chapter is included here. Across the chapters, readers will appreciate the current state of the science, a review of current clinical practices, and emerging evidence-based interventions with the overarching goal of providing interested parties with a reference highlighting the process, challenges, and rewards of translational research.