Marcotti Lab
In the Marcotti lab, we use mammalian and zebrafish models to elucidate how the auditory system develops and functions. Our research is also aimed at understanding the cause of deafness and age-related hearing loss and to develop therapeutic approaches to restore hearing.
Lab Leader:
Professor Walter Marcotti
Professor of Sensory Neuroscience
School of Biosciences
Development, Regeneration and Neurophysiology
w.marcotti@sheffield.ac.uk
+44 114 222 1098
Lab Members:
Char Palfrey
Postdoctoral Research Associate
My research uses in vivo two-photon microscopy to investigate neuronal calcium signalling in the pre-hearing cochlea, in combination with confocal and super-resolution microscopy in vitro to examine different neuron sub-populations in the inner ear throughout early development.
Sarah Hool
Postdoctoral Research Associate
My research investigates the role of purinergic P2Y receptors in the developing and ageing mammalian cochlea using in vivo two-photon imaging, ex vivo confocal fura-2 imaging and immunolabelling techniques.
Rinta Mathew
Postdoctoral Research Associate
My research investigates efferent signalling in the developing mouse cochlea using in vivo two-photon calcium imaging.
Andrea Aveta
PhD Student
The exact role the sensory hair cells have in the maturation of the auditory pathway and how hair cell dysfunction alters the auditory circuit are still largely unknown. My project focuses on answering these questions studying the early development of the hearing pathway in the zebrafish.
Yanyun Zhao
PhD Student
Spontaneous activities are crucial for the development of the mammalian auditory system. My research focuses on understanding how calcium signals in the prehearing cochlea operate in vivo using two-photon microscopy.
Alice Zanella
PhD Student
Genetic mutations play a key role in progressive and age-related hearing loss. My research is focused on investigating the suitability of gene-based therapies in preventing or potentially reversing the progression of hearing loss.
Matthew Hool
Research Assistant
My research focuses on the use of AAV surgery as a gene therapy approach to prevent progressive hearing loss and rescue auditory function.
Zoë Shaw
PhD Student
Communication between non-sensory cells is required for essential physiological processes which maintain our sense of hearing. My research will focus on using AAV-based gene therapy to correct mutations in gap junction-mediated communication between non-sensory cells to restore hearing.
Lillian Smith
PhD Student
My project will investigate the shared molecular mechanisms underlying age related hearing loss (ARHL) and neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's, with a focus on mitochondrial dysfunction. This research should help to establish whether reduced auditory input to the brain exacerbates the progression of dementia.
Past Lab Members:
Dr Francesca De Faveri
Dr Andrew O’Connor
Dr Fanbo Kong
Dr Anna Underhill
Dr Hubashia Ganzafar Rizvi
Dr Valeria Zampini
Dr Aenea Hendry
Dr Stephanie Kuhn
Dr Jennifer Olt
Dr Katherine Hardy
Dr Tanya Bardhan
Dr Tobias Eckrich
Ms Maria Pakendorf
Dr Alison Wood
Dr Oliver Huston
Dr Laila Moushtaq-Kheradmandi