Faculty Appointments
Assistant Professor of Hearing & Speech Sciences
Education
Ph.D., Medicine, Emory University, Atlanta, GeorgiaB.S., Cellular Biology, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia
Research Description
Dr. Beers Wood combines her training in immunology with her postdocs in auditory neuroscience to study basic mechanisms of hearing. She is also passionate about teaching the creativity that science requires through mentoring.
The Hearing Response Mechanisms through Observations of Neuro-Immunity in the Cochlea (HARMONIC) Laboratory, uses a combination of techniques including fluorescent imaging, flow cytometry, and deep neural network analysis of facial grimace and movement to understand how the immune system and neurons of the cochlea interact after exposure to loud noise. The long-term goal of Dr. Beers Wood’s research is to develop interventions to prevent or treat noise induced hearing loss (NIHL) or NIHL associated conditions such as pain hyperacusis.
The Hearing Response Mechanisms through Observations of Neuro-Immunity in the Cochlea (HARMONIC) Laboratory, uses a combination of techniques including fluorescent imaging, flow cytometry, and deep neural network analysis of facial grimace and movement to understand how the immune system and neurons of the cochlea interact after exposure to loud noise. The long-term goal of Dr. Beers Wood’s research is to develop interventions to prevent or treat noise induced hearing loss (NIHL) or NIHL associated conditions such as pain hyperacusis.
Research Keywords
cochlea, noise-induced hearing loss, immunology, hyperacusis, pain
Publications
Slika E, Fuchs PA, Wood M B. Virally mediated enhancement of efferent inhibition reduces acoustic trauma in wild-type murine cochleas. Mol Ther Methods Clin Dev. 2025 Mar 3/21/2025.
Wood M B, Nowak N, Fuchs PA. Damage-evoked signals in cochlear neurons and supporting cells. Front Neurol. 2024.
Zhang Y, Hiel H, Vincent P, Wood M B, Elgoyhen AB, Chien W, Lauer A, Fuchs PA. Engineering olivocochlear inhibition to reduce acoustic trauma. Mol Ther Methods Clin Dev. 2023 Jun 6/8/2023.
Nowak N, Wood MB, Glowatzki E, Fuchs PA. Prior Acoustic Trauma Alters Type II Afferent Activity in the Mouse Cochlea. ENeuro. 2021 Nov 11/5/2021.
Vyas P, Wood MB, Zhang Y, Goldring A, Chakir FZ, Fuchs PA, Hiel H, et al. Characterization of HA-tagged a9 and a10 nAChRs in the mouse cochlea. Sci Rep. 2020 Dec 12/11/2020.
Wood MB, Nowak N, Mull K, Goldring A, Lehar M, Fuchs PA, et al. Acoustic Trauma Increases Ribbon Number and Size in Outer Hair Cells of the Mouse Cochlea. JARO. 2020 Nov 11/5/2020.
Rai V, Wood MB, Feng H, Schabla N, Tu S, Zuo J. The immune response after noise damage in the cochlea is characterized by a heterogeneous mix of adaptive and innate immune cells. Sci Rep. 2020 Sep 9/16/2020.
Wood MB, Zuo J. The Contribution of Immune Infiltrates to Ototoxicity and Cochlear Hair Cell Loss. Front Cell Neurosci. 2017 Apr 4/12/2017.
Wood M B, Nowak N, Fuchs PA. Damage-evoked signals in cochlear neurons and supporting cells. Front Neurol. 2024.
Zhang Y, Hiel H, Vincent P, Wood M B, Elgoyhen AB, Chien W, Lauer A, Fuchs PA. Engineering olivocochlear inhibition to reduce acoustic trauma. Mol Ther Methods Clin Dev. 2023 Jun 6/8/2023.
Nowak N, Wood MB, Glowatzki E, Fuchs PA. Prior Acoustic Trauma Alters Type II Afferent Activity in the Mouse Cochlea. ENeuro. 2021 Nov 11/5/2021.
Vyas P, Wood MB, Zhang Y, Goldring A, Chakir FZ, Fuchs PA, Hiel H, et al. Characterization of HA-tagged a9 and a10 nAChRs in the mouse cochlea. Sci Rep. 2020 Dec 12/11/2020.
Wood MB, Nowak N, Mull K, Goldring A, Lehar M, Fuchs PA, et al. Acoustic Trauma Increases Ribbon Number and Size in Outer Hair Cells of the Mouse Cochlea. JARO. 2020 Nov 11/5/2020.
Rai V, Wood MB, Feng H, Schabla N, Tu S, Zuo J. The immune response after noise damage in the cochlea is characterized by a heterogeneous mix of adaptive and innate immune cells. Sci Rep. 2020 Sep 9/16/2020.
Wood MB, Zuo J. The Contribution of Immune Infiltrates to Ototoxicity and Cochlear Hair Cell Loss. Front Cell Neurosci. 2017 Apr 4/12/2017.