Colleen G. Le- Prell BA, PhD

Dr. Colleen Le Prell is one of the leading researchers in the area of hearing loss prevention. Her work has emphasized the identification of cell death pathways activated by noise, and assessment of therapeutic agents that prevent cell death and hearing loss. Recently, Dr. Le Prell completed a pre-clinical study assessing prevention of age-related hearing loss, noise-induced hearing loss, and their interactions, using two dietary supplements. In parallel, she led two clinical trials assessing potential prevention of temporary music-player induced changes in hearing; one study assessed an investigational new drug agent, and the other assessed a dietary supplement.
Dr. Le Prell is the president-elect of the National Hearing Conservation Association. She has served as the lead editor on the Springer Handbook of Auditory Research edition titled Noise-Induced Hearing Loss: Scientific Advances, co-editor on a recent volume in the Springer series, Oxidative Stress in Applied Basic Research and Clinical Practice, titled Free Radicals in ENT Pathology, and also director of education for the National Hearing Conservation Association. Dr. Le Prell received her bachelor’s degree from the University of Minnesota at Morris and her master’s and doctoral degrees from the University of Michigan.