Temporal Bone Research Resources

The Registry produces and disseminates a semi-annual newsletter, titled The Registry, on the advances and opportunities in otopathology, targeted primarily towards physicians and researchers. The newsletter has a circulation of more than 12,000. Content typically includes short scientific articles focused on recent developments in otopathology, spotlights on temporal bone laboratories, and news and announcements about relevant meetings, courses, and workshops.

Printing the newsletters listed below requires you to have Adobe Acrobat Reader installed. If do not have Adobe Acrobat Reader, you may obtain it for free from Adobe Products. Once you are on Adobe’s Acrobat Reader webpage, you will be walked through the steps to acquire the software. 

Current issue:
Spring 2022. Vol. 29, No. 1

Past issues:
Fall 2021. Vol. 28, No. 2
Winter 2021. Vol. 28, No. 1.
Summer 2020. Vol. 27, No. 2.
Winter 2019. Vol. 27, No. 1.
Summer 2019. Vol. 26, No. 2.
Winter 2018. Vol. 26, No. 1.
Summer 2018. Vol. 25, No. 2.
Winter 2017. Vol. 25, No. 1.
Summer 2017. Vol. 24, No. 2.
Winter 2016. Vol. 24, No. 1.
Summer 2016. Vol. 23, No. 2.
Winter 2015. Vol. 23, No. 1.
Summer 2015. Vol. 22, No. 2.
Winter 2014. Vol. 22, No. 1.
Spring 2014. Vol. 21, No. 2.
Winter 2012. Vol. 20, No. 2.
Summer 2012. Vol. 20, No. 1.
Winter 2011. Vol. 19, No. 2.
Summer 2011. Vol. 19, No. 1.
Winter 2010. Vol. 18, No. 2.
Summer 2010. Vol. 18, No. 1.
Winter 2009. Vol. 17, No. 2.
Summer 2009. Vol. 17, No. 1.
Winter 2008. Vol. 16, No. 2.
Summer 2008. Vol. 16, No. 1.
Winter 2007/2008. Vol. 15, No. 2.
Summer 2007. Vol. 15, No. 1.
Winter 2006/2007. Vol. 14, No. 2.
Summer 2006. Vol. 14, No. 1.
Winter 2005/2006. Vol. 13, No. 2.
Winter 2005. Vol. 12, No. 2.
Summer 2004. Vol. 12, No. 1.
Winter 2003. Vol. 11, No. 2.
Summer 2003. Vol. 11, No. 1.

The Registry organizes professional Continuing Medical Education (CME) activities directed at providing continuing education on research developments in pathology of the human auditory and vestibular systems. CME activities have included both didactic and hands-on training for otopathologists as well as technicians.

The Registry regularly arranges an exhibit at three to four national meetings each year. Most exhibits are at meetings involving the scientific and research communities such as:

• Association for Research in Otolaryngology (ARO)
• American Academy of Otolaryngology—Head and Neck Surgery (AAO-HNS)
• Combined Otolaryngological Spring Meetings (COSM)
• International Otopathology Society

The Registry also targets at least one meeting per year for lay audiences such as:

• American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) convention
• Hearing Loss Association of America (HLAA) convention

Registry personnel staff these exhibits, which generally include a real time version of the temporal bone database and other informational materials.

The Registry has produced the instructional 20-minute video, Techniques For Temporal Bone Removal, which demonstrates the correct method for removing temporal bones and related brain tissue from donors. It is meant for otolaryngologists, pathologists, and related professionals who have not had prior hands-on training in these techniques but are on-site postmortem.

This video is useful for funeral directors and embalmers who interact with physicians and procurement of donated tissues. It provides an overview of the rationale for temporal bone study and an explanation of the importance of collaboration amongst professional personnel such as primary care physicians, otolaryngologists, pathologists, and funeral directors to ensure successful procurement of donated tissues.

The video is accompanied by the scientific article, Techniques For Human Temporal Bone Removal (Nadol et al 1996), which appeared in the October 1996 issue of Otolaryngology—Head and Neck Surgery.

To obtain copies of the video at no charge, contact:

Felipe Santos, MD
243 Charles Street
Boston, MA 02114
Tel: 800-822-1327
Tel: 617-573-3711

The Registry funds a mini-travel fellowship program that provides research technicians and young investigators the opportunity to have a one-week, educational visit to a temporal bone laboratory. The emphasis is on the training of research assistants, technicians, and junior faculty.

The fellowship is available to:

• U.S. hospital departments who aspire to start a new temporal bone laboratory
• Inactive U.S. temporal bone laboratories that wish to reactivate their collections
• Active U.S. temporal bone laboratories that wish to learn new research techniques
• Up to two fellowship awards will be made each year ($1,000 per fellowship). The funds may be used to defray travel and lodging expenses. Applications will be decided on merit.

Interested applicants should submit the following:

• An outline of the educational or training aspect of the proposed fellowship (1-2 pages)
• Applicant’s curriculum vitae
• Letter of support from temporal bone laboratory director or department chairman
• Letter from the host temporal bone laboratory, indicating willingness to receive the traveling fellow

Applications should be sent to:

Felipe Santos, MD
Massachusetts Eye and Ear
243 Charles Street
Boston, MA 02114

• Otopathology Laboratory
• National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders
• Hereditary Hearing Loss Homepage
• House Ear Institute
• Paparella Otopathology Laboratory at University of Minnesota
• American Academy of Otolaryngology—Head and Neck Surgery
• Association for Research in Otolaryngology
• The American Otological Society
• Triological Society
• International Hearing Foundation
• American Hearing Research Foundation
• Hearing Health Foundation
• PubMed Database
• American Cochlear Implant (ACI) Alliance is a not-for-profit membership organization created with the purpose of eliminating barriers to cochlear implantation. The membership spans clinicians and scientists from across the cochlear implant continuum of care including otolaryngologists, audiologists, speech-language pathologists, educators, psychologists, and others in cochlear implant teams as well as educational professionals who work with children with hearing loss. Parents of children with cochlear implants, adult recipients, military (free membership), and other advocates for access to care are also active members. An annual clinical research conference is convened. Activities include research, advocacy and awareness initiatives designed to improve access to CI care. There are important informational resources on the ACI Alliance website on the CI process, surgery, insurance, candidacy, adult rehabilitation, and more.