Welcome to Project EAR: Exploring Autoimmune Responses
Advancing research to uncover how the immune system drives hearing and balance disorders.
Project EAR (Exploring Autoimmune Responses) is a translational research initiative dedicated to understanding the immune mechanisms that underlie inner ear diseases such as Ménière’s disease (MD) and Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss (SSHL). These conditions often strike without warning, leading to vertigo, tinnitus, hearing loss, and profound effects on quality of life. For many patients, the causes remain unclear, and treatment options are limited.
Our mission is to bridge the gap between basic science and clinical care. By investigating how innate and adaptive immune responses contribute to inner ear dysfunction and degeneration, we aim to discover new biomarkers and develop targeted therapies that can transform outcomes for patients.
Our Focus Areas
Ménière’s Disease (MD)
Ménière’s disease is a chronic condition marked by episodes of vertigo, fluctuating hearing loss, tinnitus, and ear fullness. Growing evidence suggests that immune dysregulation, vascular changes, and inflammation play central roles in its development and progression. Through in vivo models, human tissue analysis, and immune profiling, Project EAR seeks to uncover the cellular and molecular mechanisms driving endolymphatic hydrops and sensory cell damage.
Our goal: to identify immune-based therapies that prevent progression and preserve hearing.
Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss (SSHL)
SSHL is a rapid-onset condition that leads to sudden, often permanent, hearing loss. While viral and vascular factors are possible contributors, many cases appear linked to autoimmune or inflammatory triggers. Project EAR investigates the roles of cytokines, macrophage polarization, and tissue-specific immune responses in SSHL to identify new therapeutic targets.
Our goal: to enable earlier diagnosis and develop treatments that restore hearing.
Our Approach
In Vivo Models: Mouse models of MD and SSHL simulate disease progression and enable preclinical testing of potential therapies.
Human Immunophenotyping: Immune cell profiles from blood and inner ear tissues are analyzed to identify disease biomarkers and pathogenic mechanisms.
Therapeutic Target Discovery: Key pathways driving inflammation and degeneration are identified to guide the development of precision therapies.
Meet the Team
Project EAR is led by a collaborative team committed to advancing both science and patient care:
- Dr. Peter Santa Maria – Project and Clinical Lead
- Dr. Vincent Yuan – Project Manager and Immunology Lead
- Shauna Vasilatos – In Vivo Research
- Zarna Prakashbhai Lalwani– Clinical Research
- Congrong Ma– In Vitro Research
Our team works across disciplines to ensure seamless integration of findings and their translation into clinical applications.
Select publications
Immunological mechanisms in Meniere’s disease, Front. Immunol., 26 August 2025, https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/immunology/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2025.1639916/full
Chronic suppurative otitis media: disrupted host-microbial interactions and immune dysregulation, Front Immunol. 2025 Mar 6:16:1547206. doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2025.1547206. eCollection 2025.
Join Us
Project EAR is built on collaboration. Whether you are a researcher, clinician, student, or patient advocate, we welcome your interest and partnership in advancing the science of inner ear disorders.
Support
Your support accelerates innovative research in immune-mediated inner ear diseases, bringing us closer to new treatments for hearing and balance disorders. Every contribution, big or small, makes a difference.
For more information about supporting Project EAR, please contact:
Dr. Peter Santa Maria (santamariap@upmc.edu)
Dr. Vincent Yuan (vincentyuan@pitt.edu)