June 1-3, 2026
Boston, MA

Registration is now open:
Use this link to register for Molecular Otology 2026

Course Overview

Molecular Otology is a new field of Otolaryngology that encompasses an understanding of the molecular physiology of the inner ear and development of precision therapies for patients. With gene therapy trials for hearing loss underway, there is a need for a specialized course to educate surgeons in the theory and application of MolecularOtology.

This unique course leverages the expertise of the Boston Children’s team, which has expertise in gene therapy clinical trials. We aim to provide practical experience to surgeons, helping them better evaluate and treat patients who may be candidates for these innovative therapies

Target Audience: Otolaryngologists in practice and in training

Key Questions:

  • What molecular inner ear therapies are currently in clinical trials?

  • What therapies are on the horizon?

  • What are the relevant approaches that surgeons should be familiar with?

  • How do we counsel patients in this quickly changing landscape?

  • Will gene therapy replace cochlear implantation?

Learning Objectives:

  1. To understand required clinical diagnostic evaluation for children undergoing consideration for gene therapy for hearing loss.

  2. To describe the most commonly used viral vectors and promoters used for inner ear gene therapy.

  3. To gain practical, hands on expertise to surgical approaches to gene therapy of the inner ear.

If you would like to join our contact list, use this link to receive more information, including the schedule, when available.

Registration is now open:
Use this link to register for Molecular Otology 2026

Course Directors

Eliot Shearer, MD PhD

Boston Children’s Hospital
Harvard Medical School

Hubert Löwenheim, MD, PhD

University of Tübingen

Aaron Remenschneider, MD MPH

Boston Children’s Hospital
Mass Eye & Ear
Harvard Medical School

Planned Schedule

Planned Didactic Sessions Include:

  • Gene Therapy — How We Got Here

  • Genetics of Hearing Loss — Genes & Phenotype for Next Genes

  • Diagnostic Evaluation for Gene Therapy

  • Genetic Counseling for Gene Therapy

  • Vectors and Promoter Choice

  • Gene Replacement Therapy

  • Gene Editing/Gene Knockdown

  • Animals Models for Gene Therapy

  • Organoids for Disease Modelling

  • Open Questions in Surgical Approaches

  • Surgical Approaches to the Inner Ear

  • Fluid Dynamics of Cochlear Gene Therapy

  • Anti-VEGF Trials

  • Clinical Trial Results to Date

Hands-on Surgical Skills Lab for Gene Therapy Approaches (Optional)

Planned Interactive Sessions/Debates

  • Should This Patient Have Gene Therapy? Case Presentations and Debate

  • Debate: What Models are Needed for Preclinical Studies?

  • Debate: Which Vector and Promoter is Best for Targeting the Inner Ear?

  • Debate: Which Genes Should be Next?

 

Location

Conference Center
201 Brookline Avenue
Boston, Massachusetts, USA

Located in the Fenway Neighborhood, just steps from Harvard Medical School, Boston Children’s Hospital, and Fenway Park

Hotel Arrangements Forthcoming

 

If you would like to join our contact list, use this link to receive more information, including the schedule, when available.

Registration is now open:
Use this link to register for Molecular Otology 2026