Dr. Thanos Tzounopoulos is a leading researcher in the field of tinnitus at the University of Pittsburgh. His work focuses on understanding the brain mechanisms behind tinnitus, which is the perception of ringing or buzzing in the ears without an external sound source.
- Brain Circuits and Neurons: Dr. Tzounopoulos studies how brain circuits and neurons behave in both normal hearing and tinnitus conditions. He looks at how these circuits change and adapt, which is crucial for understanding why tinnitus occurs.
- Zinc's Role: One interesting aspect of his research is the role of zinc in the brain. Zinc acts as a neurotransmitter, facilitating the transmission of signals between neurons. Dr. Tzounopoulos has found that zinc signaling can be disrupted in tinnitus, and restoring proper zinc levels might help alleviate symptoms.
- Drug Discovery: His team is also working on developing drugs that can target specific brain mechanisms involved in tinnitus. This includes finding compounds that can modulate the activity of neurons and brain circuits to reduce or eliminate the perception of tinnitus.
- Gene Therapy: Another exciting area of his research is gene therapy. This involves using genetic techniques to correct or modify the underlying causes of tinnitus at the cellular level.
Overall, Dr. Tzounopoulos' research aims to find effective treatments for tinnitus by understanding and manipulating the brain's complex auditory processing systems.
- Vollum Institute, Oregon Health and Science University, PhD
Education & Training
On the genesis and unique functions of zinc neuromodulation. Bizup B, Tzounopoulos T. J Neurophysiol. 2024 Oct 1;132(4):1241-1254. doi: 10.1152/jn.00285.2024. Epub 2024 Aug 28.
Cochlear zinc signaling dysregulation is associated with noise-induced hearing loss, and zinc chelation enhances cochlear recovery. Bizup B, Brutsaert S, Cunningham CL, Thathiah A, Tzounopoulos T. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2024 Feb 20;121(8):e2310561121. doi: 10.1073/pnas.2310561121. Epub 2024 Feb 14.
Cortical Zinc Signaling Is Necessary for Changes in Mouse Pupil Diameter That Are Evoked by Background Sounds with Different Contrasts. Cody P, Kumar M, Tzounopoulos T. J Neurosci. 2024 Mar 13;44(11):e0939232024. doi: 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.0939-23.2024.
Cell-type-specific plasticity of inhibitory interneurons in the rehabilitation of auditory cortex after peripheral damage. Kumar M, Handy G, Kouvaros S, Zhao Y, Brinson LL, Wei E, Bizup B, Doiron B, Tzounopoulos T. Nat Commun. 2023 Jul 13;14(1):4170. doi: 10.1038/s41467-023-39732-7.
A CRE/DRE dual recombinase transgenic mouse reveals synaptic zinc-mediated thalamocortical neuromodulation. Kouvaros S, Bizup B, Solis O, Kumar M, Ventriglia E, Curry FP, Michaelides M, Tzounopoulos T. Sci Adv. 2023 Jun 9;9(23):eadf3525. doi: 10.1126/sciadv.adf3525. Epub 2023 Jun 9.
Dr. Tzounopoulos' research has been focused on the synaptic and intrinsic properties and plasticity of brain circuits and neurons. His team has discovered novel synaptic and intrinsic mechanisms in the auditory brainstem and cortex, as well as their effects during normal and pathological auditory processing in animal models of hearing loss and tinnitus. Dr. Tzounopoulos is currently pursuing drug discovery and development for tinnitus and hearing loss.