We invite you to join us for the 2026 AG Bell Fall Forum: Gene Therapy for Pediatric Hearing Loss on October 15, where leading experts will explore the latest evidence, early patient outcomes, and the opportunities and challenges shaping this rapidly evolving field.
When: October 15, 2026, from 2:30 – 6:00 p.m. ET
Where: Virtually, from wherever you are.
Cost: Free for students and attendees to the 2026 Global LSL Symposium; $99 for members; $199 for non-members
2026 Fall Forum Keynote Speaker
Eliot Shearer, M.D., Ph.D.
Dr. Eliot Shearer is a pediatric otolaryngologist and cochlear implant/gene therapy surgeon at Boston Children’s Hospital. He leads the Translational Hearing Genomics Lab and serves as site principal investigator for three hearing loss clinical trials.
Dr. Shearer will speak on the intersection of gene therapy and pediatric hearing loss. Gene therapy for hearing loss has moved from scientific promise to clinical reality, and the pace of progress is accelerating. With the first FDA-approved gene therapy for hearing loss now available and multiple clinical trials underway, clinicians, researchers, and families are beginning to see how these innovations may transform the future of care.
Fall Forum Overview
During this interactive forum, participants will:
- Review early efficacy and safety findings from current pediatric gene therapy trials
- Learn about surgical delivery approaches and how they compare with established interventions such as cochlear implantation
- Discuss candidacy, timing, and the role of genetic testing in identifying and counselling families
- Work through real-world case studies in small group discussions
- Engage directly with an expert panel on key questions facing the field today
.
Together, we will explore important topics including:
- How durable are treatment effects over time?
- Which genetic causes of hearing loss are best suited to current therapies?
- How should gene therapy be sequenced or combined with cochlear implants and other interventions?
- What systems and infrastructure are needed to support broader access as additional therapies move toward approval?
.
The Fall Forum is designed for clinicians, researchers, and families seeking a practical, evidence-based understanding of where gene therapy stands today and where the field is headed over the next several years. Plus, CEUs will be available for professionals who need them.
