ISIET 2027
Driving Innovation in Hearing Science: Integrating Genetic, Molecular, and Technological Advances for Transformative Therapies and Clinical Practice
When?
14-17 May 2027Where?
Aula Rector Dhanis, University of AntwerpFor who?
Price
275€ - 650€Driving Innovation in Hearing Science
The 5th International Symposium on Inner Ear Therapies (ISIET 2027) takes place from 14 to 17 May 2027 in Antwerp, Belgium. Under the theme “Driving Innovation in Hearing Science”, leading clinicians, researchers and innovators will come together to explore the latest advances in hearing and balance science, from gene therapy and neural regeneration to innovative implantable technologies.
Join us for an inspiring exchange of knowledge and ideas shaping the future of inner ear therapies.
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Practical
Dates: 14 – 17 May 2027
Location: Aula Rector Dhanis, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
Language: The official language of the symposium is English.
Target Audience: Researchers, clinicians, ENT specialists, audiologists, and industry professionals in the field of inner ear therapeutics.
Inquiries: For any practical questions or sponsorship opportunities, please contact our organizing team at events@uza.be.
More info about ISIET? Visit the website.
Abstract submission
Abstract submission information
We invite researchers, clinicians and other professionals to submit abstracts for presentation at the conference. Submissions will be reviewed by the scientific review committee, and authors will be notified of the outcome by 31 January 2027 at the latest.
Abstract submission deadline: 31 December 2026 at 23:59 CET
Maximum abstract length: 250 words
Abstract Topics
Abstracts should address one of the following topics:
- Innovation in Audiology
- Advancing Genetic Testing and Disease Phenotyping in Hearing Loss
- Breakthrough Therapies for Hearing Loss
- From Auditory Performance to Hearing Preservation
- Advancing Prevention, Diagnosis, and Management
- Advances in Genetic and Molecular Approaches to Hearing Loss Treatment
- Innovations in Robotic-Assisted Inner Ear Surgery: Cochlear Implants and Beyond
- Emerging Therapies for Hearing Loss: Neurotrophic Pathways, Oxidative Stress and Cochlear Modeling
- Therapeutic Strategies for Hearing and Balance Disorders: From Gene Therapy to Vestibular Implants
- Understanding the Inner Ear
Submission and Review
All submitted abstracts will be carefully evaluated by the scientific review committee. Authors will receive notification of acceptance or rejection by 31 January 2027 at the latest.
For questions regarding abstract submission, please contact events@uza.be.
Programme
Pre-Conference Workshop - 14 May 2027
Morning session
Time Session / Lecture Speaker(s) 08:30–09:00 Registration & welcome — 09:00–09:10 Opening remarks Prof. Vincent Van Rompaey — Antwerp University Hospital (UZA), University of Antwerp, Belgium 09:10–09:50 Genetic diagnosis in hearing loss: how to read the report – and how to explain it to patients and parents Prof. Sandrine Marlin — Hôpital Necker, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, France; Prof. An Boudewyns — UZA & University of Antwerp, Belgium 09:50–10:10 Gene therapy for otoferlin: where do we stand today? Dr. Ghizlene Lahlou — GHU Pitié-Salpêtrière, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, France 10:10–10:30 Gene therapy for GJB2: what to expect based on the otoferlin results… Prof. Dr. Nathalie Loundon — Hôpital Necker, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, France 10:30–10:50 Coffee break — 10:50–11:10 Liquid clues from the inner ear: what perilymph can tell us on the etiologies of sensorineural hearing loss Prof. Dr. Hinrich Staecker — University of Kansas Medical Center, USA 11:10–11:35 Modulating the Cochlear Microenvironment: How to deliver drugs locally to the inner ear Prof. Dr. Athanasia Warnecke — Medizinische Hochschule Hannover, Germany 11:35–12:20 The role of the cochlear apex: implications for hearing preservation, implant choice Em. Prof. Dr. Paul Van de Heyning — UZA & University of Antwerp, Belgium 12:20–13:15 Lunch — Afternoon session
Time Session / Lecture Speaker(s) 13:15–13:45 Cochlear health: protecting and monitoring the inner ear in the era of advanced interventions Prof. Dr. Marc Lammers — UZA, University of Antwerp & Free University of Brussels (VUB), UZ Brussels 13:45–14:30 Vestibular implant: current outcomes, patient selection, and expectations management Prof. Dr. Raymond van de Berg — Maastricht University Medical Center+, The Netherlands 14:30–14:50 Coffee break — 14:50–15:10 TICI and robotic cochlear implantation: evidence, indications, and clinical added value Prof. Philippe Lefebvre — University Hospital Liège, Belgium 15:10–16:00 From a Black Box to a Druggable Target: How Fundamental Knowledge Redefined our Perspective on the Cochlea Dr. Michael Hoa — NIDCD, Bethesda, MD, USA 16:00–16:15 Closing remarks Prof. Olivier Vanderveken — UZA, University of Antwerp & VUB, UZ Brussels, Belgium 19:00-20:00 Opening Reception at Antwerp City Town Hall Conference Day 1 - 15 May 2027
Time Session / Lecture Speaker(s) 09:00–09:10 Welcome and opening remarks Vincent Van Rompaey; Brigitte Malgrange 09:10–09:50 Opening keynote: more information soon TBD 09:50–11:00 Otoferlin: the first success story in inner-ear gene therapy
Biology, preclinical development, paediatric clinical outcomes and implications for cochlear implantation
Hubert Löwenheim (moderator); Yilai Shu; Nathalie Loundon; Manohar Bance 11:00–11:30 Coffee break and exhibition, poster viewing — 11:30–12:00 GJB2 hearing loss: precision phenotyping and trial readiness
Genotype–phenotype relationships, natural-history endpoints, paediatric patient identification and readiness for GJB2 gene-therapy trials
TBD 12:00–12:30 From vector to cochlea: translating inner-ear gene therapy
AAV design, manufacturing, intracochlear delivery, safety monitoring and lessons for durable hearing restoration
TBD 12:30–13:30 Lunch break and exhibition, poster viewing — 13:30–14:00 iPSC use in developing new therapies
Human disease modelling, inner-ear organoids and therapeutic screening
Brigitte Malgrange 14:00–14:30 RNA therapies for genetic hearing loss
Antisense oligonucleotides, splice correction, RNA editing and delivery
Erik de Vrieze 14:30–15:15 ERN CRANIO and patient advocacy groups
ERN CRANIO, the multidisciplinary otogenetics clinic, patient pathways, registries and trial readiness
An Boudewyns; ERN CRANIO representative; patient advocacy representatives 15:15–15:45 Coffee break — 15:45–16:15 Neural wiring after gene therapy
Neural connectivity, plasticity and functional recovery after hearing restoration: when we regenerate the inner ear, what happens centrally?
Gabriel Corfas 16:15–16:45 Future diagnostic strategies for hearing and balance disorders
Combining pharmacological, genetic, regenerative and implantable approaches
Hinrich Staecker 16:45–17:30 Free papers Miscellaneous 17:30–18:00 Take-home messages Vincent Van Rompaey Conference Day 2 - 16 May 2027
Time Session / Lecture Speaker(s) 09:00–09:30 The history of genetic diagnosis of hearing loss and how it could likely evolve
From deafness-gene discovery to genome-scale diagnostics
Guy Van Camp 09:30–10:00 Translational models for inner-ear therapeutics
Model selection, predictive validity and bridging preclinical discovery to human trials
Mike Bowl 10:00–10:30 Drug repurposing for hearing and balance disorders
Candidate discovery, validation pathways and clinical applicability
Pascal Senn 10:30–11:00 Coffee break and poster viewing — 11:00–11:30 Cochlear-implant outcomes compared with gene therapy
Genotype-informed outcomes, treatment selection and future pathways
Shin-Ishi Usami 11:30–12:00 Cochlear health: measuring the electrode-neuron interface
If CI electrode arrays are drug-eluting, who will benefit and how?
Marc Lammers 12:00–12:30 Vestibular implant technology: current evidence and future directions
Implant principles, clinical experience, outcomes and next-generation systems
Charley Della Santina 12:30–13:30 Lunch break, exhibition and poster viewing — 13:30–14:00 GJB2 – Connexin 26: from gene discovery to pathophysiology relevant for therapy
What makes it different from otoferlin
Said Safieddine 14:00–14:30 Circadian rhythm, cochlear biology and hearing protection
Circadian regulation, noise susceptibility and timing of interventions
Barbara Canlon 14:30–15:00 Free papers
Great ideas, short talks
— 15:00–15:30 Coffee break and poster viewing — 15:30–16:00 Exon-skipping in Usher syndrome
Preclinical data
Gwenaelle Geleoc 16:00–16:30 Perilymph as a liquid biopsy
Pathophysiology visualized by omics
Athanasia Warnecke 16:30–17:00 Free papers
Notable abstracts
Miscellaneous 19:30–22:00 Congress dinner
August Antwerp
— Conference Day 3 - 17 May 2027
Time Session / Lecture Speaker(s) 09:00–09:30 From Synapse to Speech: Brain–Inner Ear Interactions
What can be the difference between restoring natural hearing vs. CI?
Anne-Lise Giraud 09:30–11:00 GJB2: the next target for genetic hearing restoration
Disease mechanisms, gene replacement, editing strategies and clinical translation: how does it relate to otoferlin gene therapy outcomes?
Nathalie Loundon; Zheng-Yi Chen 11:00–11:15 Coffee break and poster viewing — 11:15–11:45 Free papers Miscellaneous 11:45–12:20 Questions no one dares to ask…
KOL discussion: what has not worked, trials that have disappointed, dogmas that are wrong, is gene therapy financially sustainable, and will AI accelerate vector and target design?
Moderator; invited faculty panel 12:20–12:30 Closing remarks, poster prize and adjourn Vincent Van Rompaey; Brigitte Malgrange
Practical
Travel
Travel Information – How to Reach Antwerp by Air
Antwerp is centrally located in Western Europe and easily accessible via several major international airports. Below you will find the most convenient travel options for reaching Antwerp by airplane.
Via Brussels Airport (Zaventem) – Recommended Option
The most convenient airport for reaching Antwerp is Brussels Airport.
Brussels Airport is Belgium’s main international airport, offering direct connections to destinations worldwide.
The airport railway station is located directly beneath the terminal.
Direct trains run from Brussels Airport to Antwerp Central Station.
Travel time is approximately 30–40 minutes.
Trains operate frequently throughout the day.
This is the fastest and most straightforward route to Antwerp.
Via Paris + High-Speed Train
International participants may also consider flying to Paris.
From Paris, high-speed trains operated by Eurostar provide a direct and comfortable connection to Antwerp.
Travel time by train: approximately 2–2.5 hours.
High-speed trains depart regularly.
Many airlines offer combined air-and-rail tickets.
In some cases, the Eurostar train ticket is included in the flight booking.
This option is particularly convenient for intercontinental travelers.
Via Amsterdam + High-Speed Train
Another alternative is flying to Amsterdam.
From Amsterdam, direct high-speed trains operated by Eurostar connect to Antwerp.
Travel time by train: approximately 1–1.5 hours.
Frequent daily departures.
Combined flight + rail tickets are often available.
In some cases, the Eurostar ticket is included in your airline reservation.
Final Destination: Antwerp Central Station
All international trains arrive at Antwerp Central Station, located in the heart of the city and well connected to hotels and public transport
Accomodation
We have reserved several rooms at different quality hotels close to our event venue. You will be able to make your own booking as from next week through a link that will be published here.
About Antwerp
Antwerp, a metropolis on a human scale, welcomes you with open arms. This city, despite its modest size, houses Europe's largest port area and a rich blend of cultures from over 170 nationalities. Explore a variety of experiences, from shopping and museums to start-up hubs and gourmet delights. Rubens' historical home, the global diamond trade hub, and quality hotels are all a leisurely stroll away. Antwerp seamlessly weaves heritage and innovation, creating a haven where quality of life thrives. Discover more of what Antwerp has to offer you via Welcome to Antwerp | Visit Antwerpen
Getting around in Antwerp
Getting around in Antwerp is pretty easy. Antwerp is a small and walkable city but it sure offers other (sustainable) ways to discover the city.
By taxi or uber
Uber and Taxi drivers in Antwerp know the city as if it were their backyard. If you want to order a taxi, call Antwerp Tax via 0032 3 238 38 38. Or download the Antwerp Tax App via the Apple Store or Google Play Store.
Uber also operates in Antwerp. You can download the Uber App via the Apple Store or Google Play Store.
Shared mobility
Antwerp provides a lot of shared mobility offers such as bikes, steps and scooters. You can find all the different options, operators and rates here.
Public transport
Antwerp has got a broad network of public transport existing of trams, trains, busses, metro’s and even boats. You can find more information here.
About the venue
Aula Rector Dhanis, Stadscampus, University of Antwerp
The conference will take place in the Aula Rector Dhanis, the largest auditorium of the University of Antwerp, located on the Stadscampus in the heart of the city. Its central position in a lively and vibrant neighborhood means everything —hotels, restaurants, and cultural attractions— is within walking distance.
Designed in 2002 by Driesen-Meersman-Thomaes Architecten (DMT), the building has received architectural recognition and offers a modern, well-equipped setting for large events.
With its spacious design, prime location, and dynamic surroundings, the Aula Rector Dhanis provides an ideal venue for a successful and engaging conference.