UB's Henderson Receives Research Award

BUFFALO, N.Y. -- Donald Henderson of Williamsville, a professor in the Department of Communicative Disorders and Sciences in the College of Arts and Sciences at the University at Buffalo, has been named the recipient of the third annual Hofstra University National Research Award in recognition of his distinguished contributions to the field of hearing science.

A reception was held earlier this month at Hofstra University in honor of Henderson.

The Hofstra University National Research Award is an annual prize given in a discipline related to the mission of Hofstra's Saltzman Community Services Center, which is dedicated to the education of students and the health and well-being of the community. This year's award was designated for contributions to the field of speech, language and hearing.

Henderson is a leading scientist at UB's Center for Hearing and Deafness. His work is at the forefront of international research to determine the biological mechanisms through which toxins and noise exposure damage the organs of the inner ear. His research group was the first to show noise exposure increases levels of oxygen free radicals in the cochlea, which kill hair cells responsible for transmitting sounds to the brain. His team also showed that the use of antioxidants can slow or prevent the occurrence of this process.

His work has led to two patents for new drugs to prevent or reverse hearing loss, and has been instrumental in developing another drug that lessened hearing loss due to deafening battle noise in tests conducted by the U.S. military.

Earlier this year, Henderson was named recipient of the Outstanding Hearing Conservation Award from the National Hearing Conservation Association.

UB honored Henderson for his work in drug development for hearing loss in 2005 and 2004.

Henderson received a bachelor's degree in biology/psychology from Western Washington State College and a doctorate in sensory psychology from the University of Texas. His interest in hearing loss developed during a postdoctoral fellowship at the Central Institute for the Deaf in St. Louis.

He has published more than 200 research articles, hosted a number of international conferences and edited 13 books.