Valerie’s research interests employ genetics to understand why some people or some families are susceptible to certain types of biological challenges. These research efforts fall into four different areas.
Inherited Hearing Loss
In collaboration with audiologists, physicians, and scientists at the V.M. Bloedel Hearing Research Center, Valerie formed the Hereditary Equilibrium and Auditory Research (HEAR) Group. We are working with large families that have hearing and/or balance problems that run in their family. Our lab has been successful in discovering the genetic basis of these sensory problems in several of the families enrolled in our study. For more information on this study please click on the HEAR Group Link. These studies are funded by the National Institute of Health, the V.M. Bloedel Hearing Research Center and research gifts from study participants.
Autoimmune Hearing Loss
In collaboration with Dr. Jay Rubinstein and other physicians in the Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery at the University of Washington, Valerie is enrolling individuals with Autoimmune Sensorineural Hearing Loss (ASNHL). ASNHL is characterized by a rapidly progressing bilateral sensorineural hearing loss that responds therapeutically to corticosteroids. We are interested in learning more about which proteins in the ear are targeted by the immune system. For more information on this study please click on the HEAR Group Link.
Speech and Language Disorders
In collaboration with Martin Nevdahl in the University of Washington Speech and Hearing Clinic, Valerie is looking for families with inherited Speech and Language Disorders, including stuttering, spasmodic dysphonia, and childhood apraxia of speech. For more information on this study please click on the Speech link.
Peripheral Nervous System Disorders
In collaboration with Drs. Thomas Bird and Phillip Chance in the Department of Neurology at the University of Washington, Valerie identified a new gene named LITAF/SIMPLE that underlies Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT) type 1C. This gene may regulate protein degradation in the nervous system. Funding for this study was provided by the Muscular Dystrophy Association and the Charcot-Marie-Tooth Association.Researchers have made the UW one of the top centers in the nation for the study of CMT disease. Left to right: Valerie Street, Phillip Chance, and Tom Bird. Photo by Kathy Sauber
