Molecular Otology (June 1-3, 2026)

Overview

Molecular Otology is a new field of Otolaryngology that encompasses an understanding of the molecular physiology of the inner ear and the development of precision therapies for patients. With gene therapy trials for hearing loss underway, there is a need for a specialized course to educate surgeons in the theory and application of Molecular Otology.

This unique course leverages the expertise of the Boston Children’s team, which has expertise in gene therapy clinical trials. We aim to provide practical experience to surgeons, helping them better evaluate and treat patients who may be candidates for these innovative therapies

Course Directors:
Eliot Shearer, MD PhD (Boston Children’s Hospital/Harvard Medical School, USA)
Aaron Remenschneider, MD MPH (Boston Children’s Hospital/Harvard Medical School, USA)
Hubert Löwenheim, MD PhD (University of Tübingen, Germany)

Confirmed Speakers:

– Christoph Arnoldner, MD, Medical University of Vienna

– Sharon Cushing, MD, University of Toronto 

– Taha Jan, MD PhD, Vanderbilt University

– Anil Lalwani, MD, Columbia University

– Daniel Lee, MD, Harvard Medical School

– Hubert Lowenheim, MD PhD, University of Tubingen

– Shelby Redfield, MS CGC, Boston Children’s Hospital

– Aaron Remenschneider, MD, MPH, Harvard Medical School

– Thore Schade-Mann, MD PhD, University of Tubingen/Harvard Medical School

– Eliot Shearer, MD, PhD, Harvard Medical School

– Seiji Shibata, MD PhD, University of Southern California

– William Sewell, PhD, Harvard Medical School

– Hinrich Staecker, MD PhD, University of Kansas

Course Format 

This course will be held in person at 201 Brookline Ave Boston, MA 02215. 

Learning Objectives: 

At the conclusion of this educational program, learners will be able to:

1. To understand required clinical diagnostic evaluation for children undergoing consideration for gene therapy for hearing loss.
2. To describe the most commonly used viral vectors and promoters used for inner ear gene therapy.
3. To gain practical, hands on expertise to surgical approaches to gene therapy of the inner ear.

Physicians

Boston Children’s Hospital designates this live activity for a maximum of 16 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits ™. Physicians should claim only credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in this activity.

       

Sponsorships

Gold Sponsors

Silver Sponsors

Bronze Sponsors

Additional Sponsors

Exhibitors

In-kind Equipment:

Glennon Surgical LLC

Disclosures

Boston Children’s Hospital adheres to all ACCME Essential Areas, Standards, and Policies. It is Boston Children’s policy that those who have influenced the content of a CME activity (e.g. planners, faculty, authors, reviewers and others) disclose all relevant financial relationships with commercial entities so that Boston Children’s may identify and resolve any conflicts of interest prior to the activity. These disclosures will be provided in the activity materials along with disclosure of any commercial support received for the activity. Additionally, faculty members have been instructed to disclose any limitations of data and unlabeled or investigational uses of products during their presentations.

The following planners, speakers, and content reviewers, on behalf of themselves, have reported the following relevant financial relationships with any entity producing, marketing, reselling, or distributing health care goods or services consumed by, or used on patients: 

Name	Entity Name, or None
Eliot Shearer, MD PhD	Scientific Advisor and Site Principal Investigator, Eli Lilly; Scientific Advisor and Site Principal Investigator, Regeneron
Aaron Remenschneider, MD MPH	Consulting, Zeiss
Sharon Cushing, MD	Advisory Board, Speaker’s Bureau, Sponsored Research Agreement, Cochlear Corporation; Advisory Board, Akouos (Eli Lilly); Advisory Board, Decibel (Regeneron); Advisory Board, Sensorion; Royalties, Nova Publishing/ Plural Publishing;
Wendy Chung, MD	None
Hubert Lowenheim, MD PhD	MedEl: Clinical Study, Surgical and Scientific Advisory; Regeneron: Clinical Study, Scientific Advisory; Lilly: Clinical Study; Rinri: Scientific Advisory; Acousia Therapeutics: Founder, Shareholder, Board Member, MedEl, Regeneron, Lilly, Rinri, Acousia Therapeutics;
Pablo Altschwager Kreft, MD	None
Shelby Redfield, MS CGC	Advisor, Regeneron; Consultant, Skylark Bio; Speaker and advisor, Eli Lilly
Gwen Géléoc, PhD	None
Ronald Pennings, MD PhD	Contracted Research, PI in phase 1 and 2 clinical trial, Audiocure and ENT Clinical; Investigator Initiated Research Project (ended in 2025), Cochlear; Medical Research Consultancy, Akouos / Lilly;
Jeff Holt, PhD	Consultant, Beam Therapeutics; Consultant, Rescue Hearing;
Thore Schade-Mann, MD PhD	None
Bill Sewall, PhD	Consultant, Akouos, a wholly owned subsidiary of Eli Lilly; I own contingency value rights associated with the sale of Akouos stock to Lilly, Eli Lilly;
Hinrich Staecker, MD PhD	Consultant, MedEl GmbH;
Anil Lalwani, MD	Founder and Owner, Haystack Medical
Taha Jan, MD	Site investigator for sponsor initiated clinical trial. I do NOT consult for Lily and a I do NOT have equity/stocks.
Xue Zhong Liu, MD PhD	None
Ronna Hertzano, MD PhD	None
Seiji Shibata, MD PhD	None
Aaron Tward, MD PhD	Eli Lilly, Employee
Colleen Dansereau, MSN, RN, CPN	None
Dan Polley, PhD	None
David Corey, PhD	Scientific advisory board; equity; Skylark Bio
Maryna Ivanchenko, PhD	Consultant, Skylark Bio
Christoph Arnoldner, MD	Funding of research, travel expenses, MedEl

Please see the FAQs below for common questions about how to work through a course. If you have a question or issue that is not addressed in the FAQ, please use this form to submit a help request, or if your issue is urgent, call the CME office at: 617-919-9908.

How do navigate this course?

How do I navigate this course?

There are two ways to access and navigate course content with the interactive table of contents: at the bottom of the main course page or in the sidebar on the right side of the page. Select the links in the table of contents to access the corresponding content. Depending on the course, access to content may be linear, in which case each content module or section can only be accessed if the prior ones are completed, or non-linear, in which case modules and sections can be accessed in any order. Use the breadcrumbs at the top of any course page to orient yourself within a course, or return to a previous course section or the main course page.

How do I claim credit for this course?

How do I claim credit?

If the course has been accredited, available credits will be displayed on the course home page. Select only those credits that apply to your profession, and click/tap “Apply Selection.” You may make your selection at any point while you are taking the course, or after you have completed it.

How do I download a certificate?

How do I download a certificate?

There are two ways to view/download your certificate: from within the course or from the course listing under your profile (select the document icon). In either case, you must have selected at least one available course credit type to generate a certificate.

How do I view/print my transcript?

How do I view/print my transcript?

You must be logged in to view your transcript. Select My Profile at the top of the page. If you do not see the transcript selector, be sure the Courses tab is selected. Select the type of credit and dates to include in your credit report. To include all credits from all time, leave the options blank. Select Download Transcript to view/download your transcript. Note each credit type in your transcripts starts a new page.

How do I request a refund?

How do I request a refund?

Please email the CME Department to request a refund.