2012

Development & Function of the Ear

The Brain Prize in 2012 was awarded to Christine Petit and to Karen Steel for 'their unique, world-leading contributions to our understanding of the genetic regulation of the development and functioning of the ear, and for elucidating the causes of many of the hundreds of inherited forms of deafness.'

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Brain Prize Films

The Brain Prize Winners 2012

Christine Petit

Christine Petit

Karen Steel

Karen Steel

2012 Brain Prize explainer: The genetics of hearing and deafness

Christine Petit explains how identifying over twenty different genes responsible for hereditary forms of deafness have helped understand the key molecular mechanisms of hearing. These findings provide vital new information about how the auditory system works and are paving the way to using gene therapy to treat deafness.

Brain Prize portrait film:

The 2012 brain prize winners, Karen Steel and Christine Petit describe their research into deafness and hearing, and highlight some of the key questions that remain.