Hair cells are exquisitely sensitive to auditory stimuli, but also to damage from a variety of
sources including noise trauma and ototoxic drugs. Mammals cannot regenerate cochlear
hair cells, while non-mammalian vertebrates exhibit robust regenerative capacity. Our
research group uses the lateral line system of larval zebrafish to explore the mechanisms
underlying hair cell damage, identify protective therapies, and determine molecular drivers
of innate regeneration. The lateral line system contains externally located sensory organs …