$415,000,000 Considered for Research Work on Deafness - including a cure

This bill under H.R.3293 is recommending that approximately $415,000,000 in funding be available for the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, which includes hair cell regeneration and stem cells with the goal of finding a cure for hearing loss.

Hair Cell Regeneration and Stem Cells- The NIDCD should continue building on new approaches for regenerating lost hair cells, including developing technology for gene transfer and gene vector generation, and testing the viability of regenerated cells in animal models at the levels of nucleic acids and proteins. Comparative research on responses to hair cell damage in regenerating and nonregenerating species is also urged. The Committee encourages the NIDCD to expand and support stem cell research in the auditory system, with areas of focus to include the use of stem cells to replace lost hair cells and peripheral neurons via transplantation; integration of stem cells into sensory epithelium; and innervation/re-innervation of the partially deaf or deaf cochlea. The Committee continues to encourage further studies to correlate hair cell replenishment with improved hearing.

Currently as of 8/4/2009 the bill is placed on "Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 149."

Which means this bill is coming along. And based on the description on the need to expand research on hearing loss with the ultimate goal of finding a cure for hearing loss is encouraging.