The state of Lower Saxony and the Volkswagen Foundation approve funding for scientists at the UMG and the MBExC Cluster of Excellence of about 1 milion euros of the “SPRUNG” (formerly: “Niedersächsisches Vorab”). The team around Tobias Moser focuses on the development of the optical cochlear implant for the restoration of hearing in humans.
Left: Concept drawing of combination of optical cochlear implant (oCI) with gene therapy product (top), close-up of waveguide-based oCI prototype for excitation with red light (bottom). Middle: Top view of the cochlea. Optical excitation of the neurons allows specific areas of the cochlea to be targeted for excitation. Right: Cross-section through the cochlea. Source: Keppeler/Moser (UMG)