Alyssa Luz-Ricca was awarded NIH F31 Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award from the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders that begins on December 1, 2025. Alyssa is a doctoral candidate in the Neuroscience in the lab of Jung-Bum Shin.
Alyssa received her Bachelor of Science degree from William & Mary in Neuroscience.
We asked Alyssa to tell us about her research and hopes for the future.
Can you tell us about your research?
The Shin Lab does research on genetic and environmental causes of hearing loss, and the role of the primary auditory receptors (hair cells) in these processes. Hearing relies on the precise function of auditory hair cells, which possess specialized stereocilia that deflect in response to sound, activating mechanically-gated ion channels essential for mechanotransduction. Because mammalian auditory hair cells cannot regenerate, damage to stereocilia can lead to progressive hearing loss. Understanding endogenous mechanisms of damage repair is critical for identifying potential avenues for treating hearing loss. My project investigates a hair cell protein called XIRP2. We have previously shown that XIRP2 repairs actin damage in hair cells after loud noise exposures. Mice lacking XIRP2 have higher levels of actin damage and exhibit progressive hearing loss, indicating its importance in adult auditory hair cell maintenance. In my research, I am using cell culture approaches to look at the molecular mechanism by which this protein responds to and repairs actin damage. I’m also using proteomic analysis of the inner ear to investigate which other proteins are involved in hair cell actin repair. By elucidating the upstream regulation of XIRP2 and its role in actin repair, I’m hoping that my project will provide key insights into the molecular pathways enabling hair cells to respond to damage, offering potential therapeutic targets to prevent progressive hearing loss.
What drives or motivates your scientific pursuits?
I have a very fundamental curiosity about how molecules and cells can build a functional nervous system! I love using molecular biology techniques to investigate big neuroscience questions — like how does hearing work, and what makes people vulnerable to hearing loss? Beyond these big-picture motivations, one of my favorite aspects of research is being able to literally see cells and proteins using microscopy!
What are your future goals?
Prior to starting in the UVA BIMS program, I was a postbac at the National Institute of Mental Health. My time at the NIH made me very interested in a future career at a government agency, and being involved in developing research initiatives or grants at the federal level. My involvement in the Science Policy Initiative at UVA has been a great way to learn more about jobs within the science policy space and refine my career goals!