WELCOME TO THE COFFIN LAB
We study sensory hair cells. Our goals are to understand, prevent, and treat hearing loss
OUR WORK
Explore our Lab
Allison Coffin, PhD
Associate Professor of Biomedical Sciences at Creighton University
Protecting the Tiny Cells That Connect Us to the World
At the Coffin Lab, we study hair cells – not the cells on your head, but the sensory cells in your inner ear that allow you to hear. We explore how hair cells work, why they’re so vulnerable to damage, and how we can protect them.
Led by Dr. Allison Coffin, our team is driven to unlock the secrets of hearing loss and discover new ways to prevent it – or even restore it after damage!
OUR WHY
Questions That Guide Our Research
Our work examines both fundamental and applied questions in hearing and sensory biology.
01
How are hair cells damaged, and can we prevent or repair hair cell damage?
We seek to understand how hair cells are damaged from loud noise, certain medications, and with age. We use our understanding of the cellular mechanisms of hair cell damage to develop preventative therapies and preserve hearing. We also want to understand how fish can regenerate hair cells and how we can harness this regenerative ability for human use.
02
How do endogenous and exogenous factors modulate hearing?
We study midshipman fish to understand how hormones like estrogen alter hearing ability in these noisy fish, which can impact their reproductive success. Other research asks how environmental toxicants impact hair cells, with potential repercussions for aquatic life and human populations.
03
How do hatchery conditions impact salmon sensory systems?
Current projects examine how hatchery noise and fish diets alter salmon development, sensory function, and ultimately impact survival.
SCIENCE COMMUNICATION MATTERS
Giving Science a Voice
Dr. Coffin leads the Association of Science Communicators. ASC’s vision is to advance the value of science as a source of societal benefit and a basic human right.
Learn more and join the ASC today!
Join ASC for SCIENCE TALK ’25 April 3-4, 2025 at the McKimmon Center in Raleigh, NC
SEE WHAT WE’RE UP TO
