In Memoriam Neil Segil, Ph.D

We take comfort in the influence Neil continues to exert on the field thanks to his generosity as a mentor and colleague.

Hearing Health Foundation Mourns the Passing of Neil Segil, Ph.D.

Neil Segil, Ph.D., died peacefully in his sleep in July at his home in California after battling pancreatic cancer. He spent the last few months of his life at home with his family, according to fellow Hearing Restoration Project (HRP) consortium member Andy Groves, Ph.D., “reading, talking science, listening to music, watching old movies, and chatting with friends by Zoom and email,” including many consortium colleagues.

Neil was a professor at the Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California (USC), in the department of stem cell biology and regenerative medicine, the USC Tina and Rick Caruso Department of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery, and USC’s Eli and Edythe Broad CIRM Center for Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Research.

Neil was also a founding member of the HRP. He chaired the Cross-Species Epigenetics working group, which is characterizing the molecular blocks to hair cell regeneration by comparing gene expression and epigenetics across species. He was also an active member of the Reprogramming and Gene Delivery working group that is piloting ways to induce hair cells by reprogramming supporting cells, both by assessing the effects of a candidate transcription factor cocktail and by optimizing methods of delivery.

Neil’s contributions to science, the HRP, and many colleagues’ careers were invaluable. HRP scientific director Lisa Goodrich, Ph.D., describes the terrible loss. “Neil has been a leader in our field for many years, not only because of the beautiful work he carried out but also because of his generosity to others,” she says.

“I have benefited tremendously from Neil’s wisdom and advice over the years, especially since joining the HRP,” Goodrich adds. “He was always quick to answer my questions, share protocols, and jump on for a lastminute Zoom call to talk about his science and the vexing challenges we are all trying to solve as a consortium. Every interaction I had with Neil was both illuminating and rewarding—he was a genuine, warm, and kind friend. I will miss him very much.”

Many of Neil’s colleagues continue to reflect on his ability to prompt new ways of thinking about their research, pushing them to chart fresh directions and pitching in himself to help. HRP member Jennifer Stone, Ph.D., fondly recalls Neil’s scientific collegiality.

“Neil was a warm-hearted, generous, and honest

Neil’s contributions to science, Hearing Health Foundation’s Hearing Restoration Project, and the careers of many colleagues and teammates were invaluable. His colleagues remain grateful for his ability to prompt new ways of thinking about their research, pushing them to chart fresh directions and pitching in himself to help. Neil challenged ideas in a thoughtful way. He was a genuine, warm, and kind friend whom we will miss very much.

person,” Stone says. “He challenged my ideas in a thoughtful way, teaching me to consider alternative perspectives. He collaborated with me to tackle questions that I could not have addressed on my own. Neil always pushed me to look more deeply, to think about a better way to tackle a problem, and to relish the process of discovery. I cherished the time I spent with him, and I am thankful for what he taught me.”

Neil has had a profound impact on many researchers over several decades of a scientific career. Groves takes comfort in the influence Neil continues to exert on the field thanks to his generosity as a mentor and colleague.

“Neil and I collaborated for over 20 years and published 16 papers together,” Groves says. “He was one of the most widely read and gifted scientists I have ever known, a selfless and inspiring mentor, and a wonderful colleague to everyone who worked with him. I am heartbroken that I have lost my longest collaborator and my best friend, but his memory will live on in his science, and in the scientists he trained and helped throughout his career.”

“Neil had a huge impact on our field,” Stone agrees. “His work helped to frame many of the questions that we who study hair cell development and regeneration are asking today. Neil helped to forge new areas of study and to generate new scientific approaches, and he trained many bright people to carry this work forward and to generate stable and fulfilling careers for themselves. The world is fortunate that Neil decided to devote his work to hearing and balance research.”

A story on the USC Keck School of Medicine website highlights the USC Mentoring Award Neil received “for fostering an engaging, supportive, and inclusive academic environment.” The Segil Lab, which investigates sensory regeneration and inner ear biology, has trained many undergraduate and postgraduate students and postdoctoral researchers. Lab members have gone on to contribute to academic research, clinical medicine, and industry.

Former lab member, colleague, and new member of the HRP Litao Tao, Ph.D., says, “Neil always encourages his students and postdocs to try new ideas. If you have a new idea, no matter how baseless it is, you can always talk to him. He will think through it with you, talk about it, and say what the pitfalls and the outcomes might be. And the way he manages the lab, he likes people to be more selfmotivated and doesn’t push people for results. So that’s probably the reason why everyone in the Segil Lab is nice, because they don’t feel pressure from him, so they relax and enjoy the research.”

Timothy Higdon, HHF’s president and CEO, says, “We send all of those touched by Neil, both his family at home and his family in the lab, our deepest condolences. The HRP would not be where it is now without his significant insights into the processes driving embryonic development of the inner ear. We here at HHF—all of our researchers, scientific advisers, the board, staff, and volunteers—will miss him immeasurably.”