The Piotrowski Lab uses zebrafish to study how sensory hair cells develop, function, and regenerate — insights that could one day inform new strategies for treating hearing loss in people.

Kathie Thomas is the Institute’s zebrafish training coordinator, where she helps oversee the care and stewardship of tens of thousands of zebrafish that power groundbreaking biomedical research. “I love working with the fish," said Thomas. "And I love making sure that they’re well taken care of.”

These hair cells are fragile, particularly in humans. Loud noise exposure, infections, aging, and even some chemotherapies can damage the cells. Once lost, human hair cells do not regenerate, leading to permanent hearing loss.

Zebrafish, however, can regrow their hair cells.

Unlike humans, zebrafish have hair cells located on the outside of their bodies in a sensory structure called the lateral line, which helps them detect movement in water. Because these cells are externally accessible, scientists can directly observe the regeneration process in real time. Combined with the fish’s rapid development — hatching within days and maturing quickly — zebrafish allow researchers to study regeneration across generations in a relatively short time.

“The work that I do with the zebrafish I know will help with the research,” Thomas said.

By uncovering how zebrafish naturally regenerate hair cells, scientists at the Stowers Institute are gaining insights that could one day inform new strategies to treat — or potentially even prevent hearing loss in humans.