A PHD student at Harvard is hoping that her research at the Canadian Light Source on Saskatoon’s campus will help to bring a better understanding of the inner ear which could then open the door to better diagnosis and treatment.
Janani Iyer is trying to get a clear picture of the group of cells that allow us to hear through their bony protective shell.
She says synchrotron light produces high quality images where you can distinguish between healthy and damaged sensory cells and nerve fibers without having to remove anything.
It’s too much radiation for a living patient, but it will bring about a better understanding of what happens within the inner ear in patients who have had damage from disease or by injury.