On Wednesday, November 15, Belén Elgoyhen, Senior Researcher at CONICET at the Research Institute of Genetic Engineering and Molecular Biology “Dr. Héctor N. Torres” (INGEBI, CONICET), was awarded in France with the Grand Scientific Prize of the Fondation Pour l’Audition. This award aims to highlight scientists or doctors from all over the world whose discoveries mean progress in knowledge of human hearing and may imply advances in the field of auditory health.

Dr. Elgoyhen was responsible for the discovery of the two fundamental proteins that make up the receptor of the olivocochlear efferent system within the inner ear. This system is made up of a group of neurons whose somas are located in the brain. These neurons project their axons to the inner ear, and mediate the mechanism by which the brain controls sensitivity for sound detection.

This system is important for different reasons. For starters, it allows to amplify tones that we need to listen to and simultaneously filter background sounds that could be annoying. It is also activated, for example, when we have to perform another behavioral task to diminish the sound information that reaches the brain so that we can focus on, for example, reading or writing.

The olivococlear efferent system also protects the auditory system from acoustic trauma, that is, exposure to very intense sounds repeatedly or for long periods of time. This over-exposure can produce hearing loss temporarily or even permanently. Another problem associated with the exposure to loud sounds is tinnitus – perception of phantom sounds (lacking external sound source).

Beyond the recognition of her research in basic science and its potential clinical applications, according to the researcher, one of the aspects of her professional career that was taken into account by the selection committee was her contributions to public health. “We have been providing a High Level Technology Service (STAN) at INGEBI, for the diagnosis of deafness for 15 years. In this way, hearing-impaired people can know if their hearing problems have a genetic origin, “says Elgoyhen.

The nomination of Elgoyhen was proposed by Dr. Langguth Berthold, a German psychiatrist specializing in tinnitus, with whom the researcher shares the Board of Directors of the Tinnitus Research Initiative.