Avril Holt
Laboratory Web Site
Position Title
Associate ProfessorOffice Phone
313-577-6268Biography
Dr. Holt received her undergraduate degree in Biology from Stillman College and her Ph.D. in Neuroscience from University of Michigan. Following her position as research investigator at the University of Michigan, she completed postdoctoral fellowships at West Virginia University and the University of Michigan. Dr. Holt is currently an Associate Professor in the Department of Ophthalmology, Visual and Anatomical Sciences at Wayne State University. Dr Holt lectures and teaches all of the labs in the Medical Histology and Embryology course, which is part of the year 1 Medical School curriculum. Dr. Holt's research in the field of auditory neuroscience has included studies of the anatomy, physiology, neurochemistry and gene expression of the central auditory system. Specifically, Dr. Holt has expertise in deafness related changes in the gene expression and production of neurotransmitters and ion channels in the auditory brainstem. More recently she has expanded her research to include identifying and measuring correlates of central tinnitus and vestibular disorders by modulating and measuring neuronal activity in central auditory pathway. Dr. Holt's lab uses imaging, optogenetics and gene transfer approaches to explore the effects of noise exposure on hearing and balance related disorders.
Research Educator, Full time, PhD, Histology and Cell Biology