Members: Translational Ear Physiology Team
2025 academic year (2025/2026) team
Haruna Suzuki-Kerr
Haruna has a deep fascination with the cochlea—its beautiful anatomy and the complexity that enables hearing. She is part of the Taringa Research and Innovation Platform (TRIP) research programme to develop new ways to deliver therapeutic molecules to the inner ear to treat hearing loss, alongside pursuing novel diagnostic approaches to better understand inner-ear pathologies. She is also leading investigations using sheep and human cochlear vasculature models, exploring whether blood vessels in the cochlea can be targeted for drug delivery and diagnosis. Outside the lab, Haruna enjoys searching for minerals and stones, and also likes art and singing. (LinkedIn, Unviersity profile)
Song Paek
Song is a research technical expert with broad experience spanning molecular techniques, flow cytometry, and multi-modality imaging, alongside extensive work with animal models. Song is part of the TRIP programme , driving the research on the drug delivery to the inner ear project.
Po-Yi Lue — PhD candidate
Po-Yi has a background in veterinary medicine and leads work characterising the sheep middle ear, outer middle ear, and inner ear anatomy in New Zealand Romney sheep. He is currently working to complete his PhD thesis. (University profile)
Steven Tran
Steven is a research assistant on the TRIP programme, investigating the ways to enhance delivery into the cochlea using a range of models. He joined the group through a summer studentship and an honours project, where he characterised the microanatomy of the osseous (bony) cochlear surface using scanning electron microscopy, micro-CT, and other imaging tools. (LinkedIn)
Alice Yu — Master of Biomedical Science student
Alice is working on a project to use optical coherence tomography (OCT) to image sheep and human cochleae. Her work includes optimising imaging protocols and supporting image analysis to improve the quality and interpretability of OCT datasets. (LinkedIn)
Sachini Gunasekera — Master of Audiology student
Sachini is undertaking a Master of Audiology thesis focused on characterising the sheep endolymphatic duct and endolymphatic sac, and comparing their anatomy with human structures.
Wanya Ansari — Master of Audiology student
Wanya’s Master of Audiology thesis focuses on imaging the capillaries that provide nutrients to auditory neurons in both sheep and human cochleae. (LinkedIn)
Alizee Fisher — Summer student (UoA, Medical programme)
Alizee is studying the sheep stapes and stapes annular ligament. Her project examines structural features and whether junctional proteins may act as a barrier to molecules entering the cochlea via the oval window.
Sherlly Christine — Summer student (UoA, BSc Biomedical science)
Sherlly is investigating the cochlear aqueduct—an important channel connecting the ear and brain. Her work focuses on anatomical characterisation in a sheep model. (Sherlly's LinkedIn)
Jude Anderson — Summer student (UoA, Medical programme; Te Tītoki Mataora)
Jude is exploring community perspectives on how inner-ear basic science can be communicated, and how health information can be shared effectively with Pacific communities. He also works with Dr Michelle Pokorny at a Counties Manukau clinic.
Jodi Rangitaawa — Rangahau assistant (Application of Te Ao Māori and Kaupapa Māori)
Jodi’s is part of TRIP programme. Jodi brings Te Ao Māori perspectives into the team’s research activities. She supports TRIP programme members, as well as the TEP team by advising on how to apply kaupapa Māori approaches and tikanga in day-to-day laboratory routines and research practice. (Jodi's LinkedIn)
Professor Peter Thorne — Honorary member to TEP Team; TRIP programme lead
Peter is leads TRIP programme with Haruna, and through the programme, he works with TEP team. Peter has expertise all across hearing research from population health to basic science. He is a mentor to many members of the TEP Team and shares his knowledge and experiences. (LinkedIn and University profiles)