Groves, from the Department of Neuroscience and Molecular and Human Genetics at the Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, USA, will give a talk entitled "Building and regenerating the Cochlea" on Monday September 13 at 12:00 at the seminar room 473.10 of the PRBB (C/ Dr. Aiguader, 88). He was invited by Berta Alsina (CEXS-UPF).

Groves is focused on the development and regeneration of the inner ear. He is examining signalling pathways that specify the formation of the six auditory and balance sense organs of the ear and regulate the pattern of sensory hair cells in these organs. He is also interested in trying to understand the mechanisms of how different sensory organs arose during vertebrate evolution such as the organ of Corti in the cochlea, arose during vertebrate evolution. He is also investigating the role of Notch pathway-mediated lateral inhibition in preventing the production of new hair cells after injury.