Home

Welcome to the Fowler Memorial Laboratory of the Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery of Columbia University. The lab goes back half a century and has been the site of key discoveries in the mechanics of hearing.

The eardrum’s complex pattern of motion was first discovered here by former directors Juergen Tonndorf and Shyam Khanna. Shyam Khanna went on to make some of the first measurements of active intracochlear cochlear vibrations: motions that are enhanced by active cell-based forces.  Later, pioneering measurements of intracochlear pressure were made here.

Current lab projects are focused on understanding the cell-based activity of the cochlear amplifier, with measurements of cochlear vibration using Optical Coherence Tomography, and measurements of  intracochlear cell-based voltage. The lab also has clinically-directed studies, supporting experiments in cochlear-drug-delivery by collaborators in OTO/HNS and mechanical engineering, and developing fully implantable cochlear implant components.

The Fowler Memorial Lab is a lively place with students and researchers from a variety of backgrounds – we hope you enjoy the website!