How AI can see and people (can't) hear

What if your ability to hear—or not—was written in your DNA? Around half of people with suspected hereditary hearing loss never receive a genetic diagnosis, even though a genetic cause is likely. Our lab is working to close that diagnostic gap. Using genome sequencing, we investigate the genetic causes of hearing loss in families worldwide. Sometimes this leads to the discovery of entirely new genes; other times, we focus on unclear variants in known genes to determine whether they truly cause hearing loss.

Our work goes beyond discovery. We collaborate with researchers developing gene therapies to restore certain forms of genetic hearing loss. We also support patients and families by building gene-specific registries, engaging with support groups, and establishing structures that connect patients with interdisciplinary teams, providing access to diagnostics, research, and future clinical trials.

In this talk, I’ll take you behind the scenes of the genetics of hearing, highlight the science driving discovery and therapy, and share how this work is moving us closer to a future of better diagnostics and treatments for those affected by hearing loss.

In this talk, we’ll dive into the exciting intersection of monkey behavior research and artificial intelligence (AI). We'll watch lots of cute videos of lemurs and monkeys in their natural habitats. Then, we’ll explore how AI models can be trained to analyze these videos — to detect monkeys, identify individuals, and, ultimately, recognize their actions and interactions automatically.