Dr. Sepehr Oliaei, in collaboration with Dr. Mehdi Abouzari (UCI) and Dr. Jonathan Boyd (VAMC Long Beach), have been awarded the 2026 Institute of Clinical & Translational Sciences (ICTS) Campus-Community Research Incubator (CCRI) Award for their research project titled: "Understanding Clinical Practices and Resource Gaps in the Evaluation and Management of Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss.”

Sudden hearing loss can occur without warning and requires rapid treatment, yet many patients experience delays because it is not recognized or managed consistently. Together with partners at the VA Long Beach hospital, the research team aims to assess gaps in resources available for care of patients with this disorder. Ultimately, this work aims to streamline care and improve hearing outcomes for the 66,000 adults affected by sudden hearing loss annually in the United States.