Bermingham-McDonogh Lab

Dr. Bermingham-McDonogh, Ph.D., is a research assistant professor of otolaryngology/head & neck surgery. She studies the genetics of development of the cochlea of the inner ear with the goal of contributing to therapies for hearing loss. Specifically, she examines the role of fibroblast growth factors (FGFs) in the development of specific cell types, including Pillar cells, which support auditory hair cells. FGF mutations can cause profound deafness. Bermingham-McDonogh is also interested in determining what factors prevent hair cells from regenerating after damage in mammals, as they do in birds and lower vertebrates.