Shinichi Someya, Ph.D.

I am a tenured Associate Professor, Director of Online Graduate Program in Gerontology, and Co-Director of Physiology Concentration in Graduate Program in Biomedical Sciences in the Department of Physiology and Aging in the College of Medicine at the University of Florida. I received my BA from the University of California, Berkeley in 1991 and received my PhD from the University of Tokyo (Tokyo, Japan) in 2005. I then pursued my postdoctoral training in the laboratory of Dr. Tomas Prolla in the Department of Genetics at the University of Wisconsin (2005-2011). I joined the faculty in the Department of Aging and Geriatric Research at the University of Florida as a tenure-track Assistant Professor in June of 2011 and was promoted to tenured Associate Professor in July of 2016.

I have a broad background in molecular cell biology, with specific training and expertise in auditory neuroscience, mitochondrial biology, aging, and hearing loss. I have long-standing interests in elucidating why biological and environmental insults primarily target cochlear outer hair cells, rather than inner hair cells. Currently, my research focuses on the roles of mitochondria, endoplasmic reticulum (ER), and ER -mitochondria contact sites in the maintenance of normal cochlear hair cell function and auditory function. My work employs electrophysiology, histology, biochemistry, and molecular biology to assess auditory function and cochlear pathology. We use mice as a model system because the mouse inner ear is anatomically similar to that of human and the homologies between the mouse and human genomes are well-established.

At the University of Florida, I currently direct six graduate courses: GMS 6486 Biology of Aging (fall/spring/summer), SPA5102 Auditory Anatomy and Physiology (fall), SPA6581 Anatomy and Physiology of Balance (fall), SPA6581 Auditory Pharmacology (summer), and SPA6564 Communication and Aging (spring). I also teach 5 graduate courses as a lecturer, including GMS 6893 Clinical and Translational Science Institute Student Seminar (fall), GMS 6622 Mitochondrial Biology in Aging and Disease (fall), and GMS6070 Sensory Biology (spring). In my courses, I take a student-centered and interactive approach. I encourage students to participate actively.

The Someya Lab studies the molecular mechanisms that underlie cochlear mitochondrial dysfunction, aging, and hearing loss. Our work employs molecular genetics tools to identify the genes and pathways involved in aging and mitochondrial dysfunction. These studies are complemented by the use of electrophysiology and histology to assess hearing function and cochlear pathology. We use mice as a model system because the mouse inner ear is anatomically similar to that of human and the homologies between the mouse and human genomes are well-established.

http://someyalab.aging.ufl.edu/about-someya-lab/

0000-0001-9895-6227

• Aging
• Impact of hearing loss
• Mitochondria