The cEAR is a collaborative clinical and research consortium led by Zubair Ahmed, PhD, Saima Riazuddin, PhD and Ronna Hertzano MD, PhD.

Collectively they have published over 200 manuscripts in peer reviewed journals, cited over 14,500 times, and contributed in the identification and/or characterization of 28 of the currently known deafness genes.

The clinical aspect of the program offers personalized medicine. Patients suffering from hearing/balance loss can be referred to the University of Maryland Department of Otorhinolaryngology to determine the predisposing genetic factors for their hearing/balance loss so that an individualized treatment plan can be developed.

View more information about the Hearing and Balance Center or to refer a patient, please call 410-328-5828.