Meet the Researcher

Emerging Research Grants (ERG)

As one of the leading funding sources available for innovative research, HHF’s ERG program is critical. Without our support, scientists would not have the needed resources for cutting-edge approaches toward understanding, preventing, and treating hearing and balance disorders.

Robert Raphael, Ph.D.

Rice University

Raphael received his doctorate in biophysics from the University of Rochester. He did postdoctoral training in the department of biomedical engineering and the Center for Hearing and Balance at Johns Hopkins University. He is an associate professor in the department of bioengineering at Rice University where he directs the Membrane and Auditory Bioengineering Laboratory. Raphael is a 2022 Emerging Research Grants recipient.

i was trained in biophysics and hearing science. I was surprised at how little was known about the vestibular system and how small the field was. Several ENTs I talked to expressed how frustrated they were with being able to help Ménière’s disease patients. Many researchers have been using optical coherence tomography (OCT) to study the cochlea, but not the vestibular system. We had previously developed computational models of ion transport by vestibular dark cells and I realized we could expand these models and complement them with experiments. A colleague had developed a new technology for enhancing OCT contrast using gas vesicles, which are protein nanostructures. So we are using OCT, which is capable of imaging through bone, to observe changes in the fluid compartments in the inner ear.

my mother is a scientist and really encouraged all of us six kids to study science. She still reminds me that she knows more about biochemistry than I do. Looking back, I was very idealistic in college—a dual major in physics and philosophy. I wanted to understand how the universe worked and do research on Grand Unified Theory. Now I will settle for a Grand Unified Theory of how the inner ear works.

we have a genetic form of dominant progressive hearing loss in our family and I lost my hearing gradually throughout my life. I needed my first set of hearing aids at the end of high school and received a cochlear implant in 2012. In retrospect, I waited too long to get the cochlear implant. I’m the oldest and four of my siblings now have cochlear implants too.

i often think about science when cycling long distance. Einstein has a quote, “Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance you must keep moving.” I also like listening to music, and take advantage of Rice’s many free music recitals and concerts. Unfortunately people with hearing loss and cochlear implants can lose music appreciation. I actually have a side-grant with a music professor to work on improving music processing for cochlear implant users.

there are so many fascinating unanswered questions in hearing and balance science. I’ve always believed we need to better understand how things work at a fundamental level, and with the emergence of new technologies there are more opportunities to help people like myself who suffer from auditory and vestibular disorders.

Robert Raphael, Ph.D., is funded by donors to Hearing Health Foundation who designated their gifts for the most promising research. HHF sincerely thanks our community for supporting the full range of hearing and balance science.

We need your help funding the exciting work of hearing and balance scientists. Please consider donating today to Hearing Health Foundation to support groundbreaking research. Visit hhf.org/how-to-help.

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FEDERAL LAW PROHIBITS ANYONE BUT REGISTERED USERS WITH HEARING LOSS FROM USING INTERNET PROTOCOL (IP) CAPTIONED TELEPHONES WITH THE CAPTIONS TURNED ON. IP Captioned Telephone Service may use a live operator. The operator generates captions of what the other party to the call says. These captions are then sent to your phone. There is a cost for each minute of captions generated, paid from a federally administered fund. No cost is passed on to the CapTel user for using the service. CapTel captioning service is intended exclusively for individuals with hearing loss. CapTel® is a registered trademark of Ultratec, Inc. The Bluetooth® word mark and logos are registered trademarks owned by Bluetooth SIG, Inc. and any use of such marks by Ultratec, Inc. is under license. (v2.6 10-19)