Translabyrinthine acquisition of human adult cochlear tissue for molecular and cellular characterisation of the human cochlea

Pathologies of the inner ear are among the most significant global health problems and costs. Relatively little is known about these diseases, mainly due to the limited access to this organ (which makes it very difficult to study). Apart from technical devices such as hearing aids and cochlear implants, there are no real therapeutic options yet.

It is essential to increase our knowledge about the human cochlea: its anatomy, development, pathologies, and gene and protein expression profiles. Additionally, there has recently been a development in generating inner ear organoids from human-induced pluripotent stem cells. To compare this promising cellular model with their real adult human counterpart, it is also necessary to acquire adult cochlear human tissue. Providing more knowledge about the human adult cochlea will benefit both researchers and physicians worldwide.

To study the human adult cochlea, in specific it's RNA and protein expression patterns and morphology.

Fundamental research

Additional acquisition of cochlear tissue.

Included patients will undergo a translabyrinthine surgery, because of standard medical care reasons (usually this is a vestibular schwannoma). This is a major surgical intervention with a long duration (all day surgery) and 
various significant risks (such as facial nerve paralysis, intercranial haemorrhage, brain infection, liquorrhea). During and due to this intervention patients will completely lose their remaining inner ear function (both cochlea and vestibular system). However, the cochlear tissue will normally stay inside the patient (even though with complete loss of function). To also access the cochlea, the surgeon has to open up the inner ear a few millimeters outside of the standard (translabyrinthine) surgical route. This is an extremely limited 
extension of the entire translabyrinthine procedure. The only postoperative difference for the included patients is that they will have an additional ear tampon underneath their head bandage. In light of the translabyrinthine 
approach and involved risks, there are no increased or additional risks for the patient during this extended procedure.