TEL AVIV (VINnews) — Researchers at Tel Aviv University have discovered a rare subgroup of cells in the inner ear that can convert into sensory hair cells, potentially opening the door to regenerative therapies for hearing loss long viewed as irreversible.

The study, led by Prof. Karen Avraham of the Gray Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences and published in the journal Science Advances, used live tissue imaging and single-cell multi-omics to examine supporting cells adjacent to the cochlea’s sensory hair cells.

Hearing loss often results from damage to these delicate hair cells, which convert sound vibrations into electrical signals sent to the brain. In mammals, including humans, these cells do not naturally regenerate once lost due to aging, noise exposure, infections or other causes, making the condition permanent for hundreds of millions worldwide.

By inhibiting the Notch signaling pathway — a key mechanism involved in cell communication and hair cell development during embryogenesis — the researchers found that most supporting cells remained unresponsive. However, a specific, previously unrecognized subset known as transdifferentiating Deiters’ cells (tDCs) initiated a transformation, changing identity and beginning to develop into functional hair cells.

“Even in tissues long considered incapable of regeneration, such as the cochlea of the inner ear, there is in fact a hidden regenerative capacity, though it is very limited and appears only in a rare subpopulation of cells,” Avraham said in a university statement.

The findings highlight intrinsic differences in regenerative potential among supporting cells and provide a detailed molecular roadmap of the earliest stages of this transdifferentiation process, including coordinated changes in gene expression and enhancers.

Co-author Prof. David Sprinzak noted that identifying these cells and their mechanisms could guide future treatments aimed at expanding regenerative capacity to more cells.

While the research is still in its early stages and focused on understanding fundamental biology, it represents a significant step toward developing biological interventions that could one day restore hearing rather than just compensate for its loss with devices like hearing aids or cochlear implants.

The study was a collaborative effort involving researchers from Tel Aviv University and international partners. Full details appear in the June 2026 issue of Science Advances.