ProfessorJose Antonio Lopez-Escamez

I am a research focused academic at the School of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health at The Univeristy of Sydney with a solid background in Auditory and Vestibular Neuroscience.

My research group combines human multi-omic data, cellular and animal models to reveal the genetic architecture of common and rare variants leading to Meniere's disease and severe tinnitus and get a better understanding of molecular mechanisms to find a cure.  Our research skills include molecular genetics, bioinformatics and artificial intelligence to assess the link between tinnitus, and mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Previous tinnitus research has defined tinnitus heritability, using twins and familial aggregation studies, but also the genetic contribution of rare variants in the genes ANK2, TSC2 and AKAP9 to severe tinnitus and discovery of a genetic link between tinnitus, loudness hypersensitivity and MCI.

I established the Otology and Neurotology Research Group in Almeria Spain in 2002, an international leader in neurotology and genetics of Meniere's disease/tinnitus and inspired the Meniere Disease Research Consortium. My research has been disseminated through >200 Conferences at the major international meetings including the Association for Research in Otolaryngology, Barany Society, CORLAS, European Society of Human Genetics, European Confederation ORL-HNS and International Federation ORL Societies. I have received several prestigious Awards including the Frontiers Spotlight 2018 Award and the Hallpike-Nylen Medal in 2024.

I am ranked in the Stanford World Top 2% Scientists in 2021-25 and published over 210 papers in top scientific journals in several categories including audiology, genetics and heredity, medicine, clinical & experimental, neuroscience and otorhinolaryngology. I have obtained > 8 millions in international competitive funding, being the coordinator of genomic studies in four European partnership Grants (TINNET, ESIT, TIGER, UNITI). Currently, I am the Neuroscience Research Program Lead at the University of Sydney, where I founded the Meniere Disease Neuroscience Laboratory at The Kolling Research Institute in 2023.