Searching for Pharmacogenetic Targets in Meniere’s Disease Patients

Principal Investigator: Dr. Alvaro Gallego-Martinez​

Disease: Meniere’s disease

Research Description: Meniere’s disease is an inner ear disorder and evidence suggests that there is a genetic component, although its genetic background is not currently well understood. This study will repurpose next generation sequencing (NGS) technology, approved and used clinically for screening and diagnosis of various cancers and rare diseases, to identify genetic markers in Meniere disease. The research team will analyze the genomes of early-onset Meniere’s disease patients (less than 35 years old) who do not have a family history of Meniere’s disease and their parents using NGS to characterize genetic sequences that could play a role in the development of Meniere’s disease. If successful, these results could be the first step to creating a bioinformatic tool for the genetic diagnosis of Meniere’s disease. Results could also be used to identify druggable targets, allowing clinicians to adopt a personalized treatment approach.

Funding Partners: Becky and Lester Knight

CWR funding role: Primary funder