Bohua Hu Ph.D.

Dr. Bohua H’s research focuses on the biological and molecular mechanisms underlying hearing loss. His work emphasizes cochlear hair cell and supporting cell damage, inner ear immunity and inflammation, sex differences in inner ear biology and disease progression, and therapeutic strategies for hearing loss prevention. Specifically, he investigates conditions such as acoustic trauma, age-related inner ear degeneration, ototoxicity, and genetic causes of hearing loss.

Mengxiao Ye

Mengxiao Ye is a doctoral student with research interests in uncovering the mechanisms underlying sex differences in auditory function and disorders, with a particular emphasis on the role of galectin-3 in sex-dependent hearing loss. She also investigates immune mechanisms and hormonal influences that contribute to female susceptibility to hearing loss, addressing a significant gap in auditory science by providing insights into sex-specific molecular variations in hearing function.

Outside the lab, Mengxiao loves cats and plants, and enjoys cooking and road trips.

Olivia Yue Li

Yue Li is a visiting research scientist interested in understanding why hearing loss occurs. Her research focuses on exploring sex differences in the auditory system, inner ear RNA sequencing, and the sex-specific aspects of gene-related hearing loss. She is also studying both congenital and acquired hearing loss from a clinical audiological perspective. Yue hopes her work will contribute to more personalized and effective strategies for protecting and restoring hearing.

In her free time, Yue is a dedicated pet lover and badminton enthusiast. She finds both outdoor adventures in nature and Netflix to be her perfect weekend therapy.

Celia Zhang, Ph.D.

Dr. Celia Zhang is an Assistant Professor at the University of the Pacific Hearing and Balance Center. She earned both her Au.D. and Ph.D. from the University at Buffalo. Dr. Zhang has been contributing to our research on sex differences in inner ear biology and disease responses, and she currently serves as a consultant on our NIH/NIDCD-funded R01 award.

Henry Adler, Ph.D.

Dr. Henry Adler, Ph.D., is a Research Assistant Professor at the University at Buffalo. He earned his B.A. in Biology from Harvard University and his Ph.D. in Neuroscience from the University of Pennsylvania. His work on our research project focuses on sex differences in inner ear biology and disease mechanisms. He specifically contributes to investigating sex-dependent gene expression during the early postnatal development of the mouse cochlea.