SHACS: Litao Tao, PhD - Distal regulatory elements in inner ear development and deafness
Transcription enhancers are essential for dynamic expression regulation during
development, and mutations in those distal elements can lead to diseases,
including hereditary hearing loss. Due to the nature of distal elements and the
paucity of cells in the inner ear, most enhancers driving cell type specific
transcription in the inner ear have not yet been identified, let alone their regulatory
functions. Leveraging new epigenetic analyzing techniques such as ATACseq,
Cut&Run and Micro-C, we are able to overcome some of the barriers to profile the
epigenomes and characterize distal enhancers in the inner ear. In this seminar, I
will discuss our previous work on the role of enhancers in activating hair cell gene
expression during differentiation and the epigenetic silencing mechanism
underlying the loss of regeneration potential in surrounding supporting cells, as
well as our current effort to annotate enhancers in the cochlea.
Litao Tao, PhD is an Assistant Professor of Biomedical Sciences at the…
Event interval: Single day event. Campus location: Haring Center (IHDD). Campus room: Room CD150. Accessibility Contact: lfoy@uw.edu. Event Types: Academics. Lectures/Seminars. Target Audience: Faculty, students, researchers, lab members.
Thursday, November 13, 2025, 2:30 PM – 3:30 PM.
Prospective MS Student Clinic Tours
This clinic tour is intended for prospective graduate students interested in our Master of Science (SLP) programs in Speech and Hearing Sciences at the University of Washington. In order to go on a clinic tour, completing a patient privacy agreement will be required of participants upon arrival.
Location: Speech and Hearing Clinic (SWS) on 15th Ave NE & NE 42nd St (entrance in middle of block)
Availability: Selected Fridays with different time options
RSVP is required at: https://calendly.com/shgradv/prospective-ms-in-person?back=1&month=2025-11&date=2025-11-14
Questions? Contact us at shgradv@uw.edu.
Event interval: Campus location: Social Work / Speech & Hearing Sciences Building (SWS). Accessibility Contact: shgradv@uw.edu. Event Types: Academics. Target Audience: Prospective Students.
Friday, November 14, 2025.
For more info visit calendly.com. MS Programs in Speech-Language Pathology Info Session (General Overview)
Join us to learn more about the Master of Science Speech-Language Pathology Graduate Programs at the University of Washington. RSVP required here.
Event interval: Single day event. Campus room: Zoom. Accessibility Contact: shgradv@uw.edu. Event Types: Information Sessions. Target Audience: Prospective Graduate Students.
Wednesday, November 19, 2025, 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM.
Online.
MS Programs in Speech-Language Pathology Info Session (Application Tips)
Join us to learn more about Application Tips for the Master of Science Speech-Language Pathology Graduate Programs at the University of Washington. RSVP required here.
Event interval: Single day event. Campus room: Zoom. Accessibility Contact: shgradv@uw.edu. Event Types: Information Sessions. Target Audience: Prospective Graduate Students.
Friday, November 21, 2025, 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM.
Online.
Certificate in Speech, Language & Hearing Foundations Information Session
Join us to learn more about the Certificate in Speech, Language & Hearing Foundations at the University of Washington. RSVP required.
Event interval: Single day event. Campus room: Zoom. Accessibility Contact: sphsc-certificates@uw.edu. Event Types: Information Sessions.
Tuesday, November 25, 2025, 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM.
Prospective MS Student Clinic Tours
This clinic tour is intended for prospective graduate students interested in our Master of Science (SLP) programs in Speech and Hearing Sciences at the University of Washington. In order to go on a clinic tour, completing a patient privacy agreement will be required of participants upon arrival.
Location: Speech and Hearing Clinic (SWS) on 15th Ave NE & NE 42nd St (entrance in middle of block)
Availability: Selected Fridays with different time options
RSVP is required at: https://calendly.com/shgradv/prospective-ms-in-person?back=1&month=2025-12&date=2025-12-12
Questions? Contact us at shgradv@uw.edu.
Event interval: Campus location: Social Work / Speech & Hearing Sciences Building (SWS). Accessibility Contact: shgradv@uw.edu. Event Types: Academics. Target Audience: Prospective Students.
Friday, December 12, 2025.
For more info visit calendly.com. Certificate in Speech, Language & Hearing Foundations Information Session
Join us to learn more about the Certificate in Speech, Language & Hearing Foundations at the University of Washington. RSVP required.
Event interval: Single day event. Campus room: Zoom. Accessibility Contact: sphsc-certificates@uw.edu. Event Types: Information Sessions.
Thursday, January 8, 2026, 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM.
Postbac Program in Speech and Hearing Sciences Information Meeting
SPHSC Undergraduate advisor will provide information on our Postbac Program. This session is intended for students who have a completed bachelor's degree in another field. RSVP required
https://washington.zoom.us/meeting/register/CjKomzcoQymfXkeZ-NBBPQ
The Postbac program designed for students who want to pursue a clinical degree in Speech-Language Pathology or Audiology, but currently hold a degree outside SPHSC. Other degrees are not qualified to apply directly to Master’s degree programs in speech-language pathology and also some clinical doctorate degree programs in audiology. Completion of the Postbaccalaureate degree program provides students from outside disciplines with the necessary academic foundation to pursue graduate study in speech-language pathology and audiology.
Event interval: Single day event. Online Meeting Link: https://washington.zoom.us/meeting/register/CjKomzcoQymfXkeZ-NBBPQ. Accessibility Contact: gruber@uw.edu. Event Types: Information Sessions.
Wednesday, January 14, 2026, 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM.
Online.
For more info visit washington.zoom.us. SHACS: Gavriel D. Kohlberg, MD
Associate Professor of Otolaryngology-HNS at University of Washington
The 2025-2026 SHACS lectures will all be held in person, and are free and open to the public.
Event interval: Single day event. Campus location: Haring Center (IHDD). Campus room: Room CD150. Accessibility Contact: lfoy@uw.edu. Event Types: Academics. Lectures/Seminars. Target Audience: Faculty, students, researchers, lab members.
Thursday, January 15, 2026, 2:30 PM – 3:30 PM.
SHACS: Debarshi Mustafi, MD, PhD
Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology at University of Washington
The 2025-2026 SHACS lectures will all be held in person, and are free and open to the public.
Event interval: Single day event. Campus location: Haring Center (IHDD). Campus room: Room CD150. Accessibility Contact: lfoy@uw.edu. Event Types: Academics. Lectures/Seminars. Target Audience: Faculty, students, researchers, lab members.
Thursday, January 29, 2026, 2:30 PM – 3:30 PM.
SHACS: Shuyi Ma, PhD - In vivo screening for ototoxicity-modulating drug interactions identifies antagonism that protects against hair cell damage
Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at University of Washington
The 2025-2026 SHACS lectures will all be held in person, and are free and open to the public.
Event interval: Single day event. Campus location: Haring Center (IHDD). Campus room: Room CD150. Accessibility Contact: lfoy@uw.edu. Event Types: Academics. Lectures/Seminars. Target Audience: Faculty, students, researchers, lab members.
Thursday, February 5, 2026, 2:30 PM – 3:30 PM.