Ruili Xie, PhD
Associate Professor
Otolaryngology
Academic information
- Department: Otolaryngology
Research interests
- Age-Related Hearing Loss
- Noise-Induced Hearing Loss
- Mechanisms of Synaptic Transmission
- Function of the Auditory Neural Network
- Brain Aging
About
Biography
Cellular mechanisms of age-related and noise-induced hearing loss
Hearing loss becomes prevalent more than ever due to the steady increase of our life expectancy (leads to the increase in age-related hearing loss, or presbycusis), and over-exposure to sound from sources like personal electronic devices (contributes to noise-induced hearing loss). The focus of our research is to investigate the neural mechanisms of hearing loss due to aging and noise trauma. We aim to elucidate the underlying mechanisms of how the auditory nervous system processes sound, and how the neural processing is disrupted under aging and noise-trauma conditions. Our research utilizes whole-cell patch clamp recording technique in acute brain slices, as well as other multidisciplinary approaches including pharmacology, immunohistochemistry, molecular biology, optogenetics and behavioral assays. Research in the lab is supported by the National Institute of Health (NIDCD).
Additional Research
Our other research projects aim to answer some of the fundamental questions of neuroscience: how do synapses age and how does synaptic aging contribute to neurodegenerative disease? What are the changes of mitochondrial function at the synaptic terminals during brain aging, and what are the underlying mechanisms? Our research platform enables us to pursue these questions. Various projects are being developed.
Credentials
Education
- Postdoctoral Training - Neuroscience
- University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, United States
- PhD - Neuroscience
- University of Texas, Austin, TX, United States
- MS - Molecular Genetics
- Chinese Academy of Science, Institute of Genetics, Beijing, China
- BS - Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
- Peking University, Beijing, China
Research
Research interests
- Age-Related Hearing Loss
- Noise-Induced Hearing Loss
- Mechanisms of Synaptic Transmission
- Function of the Auditory Neural Network
- Brain Aging
Research Accomplishments
Current Research Supports
Title: Auditory nerve synaptopathy and the central mechanisms underlying noise-induced hearing loss
Dates: 07/01/2022 – 06/30/2027
Name of Agency: National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD)
Role: PI
Award Number: R01 DC020582
Title: Age-dependent plasticity of central auditory synapses
Dates: 09/01/2023 – 08/31/2028
Name of Agency: National Institute on Aging
Role: PL
Award Number: P01AG051443-6713