Hearing Tinnitus Balance Research Laboratory (HTBRL)
Ali A. Danesh, PhD, FAAA Director
The Hearing Tinnitus Balance Research Laboratory is a research facility, which incorporates a variety of disciplines on the development and implementation of research in order to improve our understanding of a variety of conditions and ailments.
HTBRL Hearing Tinnitus Balance Research Laboratory Associates
Our lab has several fellow and student members. Here is a list of the current lab associates:
Dr. Harshal Sanghvi
Dr. Harshal Sanghvi is currently a Post-Doctoral Fellow, Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine; Affiliate Faculty, College of Business
Harshal received his Ph.D. degree (2023) in Computer Engineering from FAU. He serves as a Program Chair for Institute for Certified Computing Professionals (ICCP), USA. He also serves as a Vice Chair for HealthTech and Life Sciences Committee at South Florida Tech Hub. His research includes Medical Imaging, Computer Vision, Augmented and Mixed Reality, Medical Interventions, Business Intelligence, Artificial Intelligence and Embedded System Design. He has authored several research articles in national and international journals, referred conferences, book chapters. Dr. Sanghvi currently is collaborating with HTBRL on a novel eye movement tracking research. He also has published the following article in collaboration with HTBRL associates: Harshal A. Sanghvi, Riki H. Patel, Ali Danesh, B. Sue Graves ,Javad Hashemi, Abhijit S. Pandya. (2022). A NOVEL GAME APPLICATION ON AUGMENTED REALITY FORPEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES. International Research Journal of Modernization in Engineering Technology and Science. Vol 04, Issue,08/ August 2022. His Email is: hsanghvi2020@health.thelumberguy.net
Claudia Alvarez
I obtained my Bachelor of Science degree in Behavioral Neuroscience and Psychology at Randolph-Macon College in Ashland, Virginia. Following my course work I found employment at a traumatic brain injury clinic, Radius TBI, in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. During my time at this clinic, I became well versed in clinical diagnostic screenings including videonystagmography (VNG), electroencephalograms (EEG), vestibular and cognitive testing. Here I served as both a medical technician and medical assistant and eventually became a research coordinator. My research here involved studying oculomotor function in patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) with intentions to use VNG testing as a diagnostic tool for cognitive impairment.
I am now pursuing my PhD in Neuroscience with interests in the vestibular system and its correlations to cognitive function in Parkinson’s disease patients under the supervision of Professor Ali Danesh as my dissertation committee chair. I also serve as a fellow in the Advancing STEM Community Engagement through Neuroscience Discovery (ASCEND) outreach program where I spread neuroscience education to middle school aged children as well as adults through community events.
Tanisha Poitevien
Tanisha Poitevien, is a graduate student pursuing a master of science degree in speech language pathology and audiology at FAU. Tanisha completed her undergraduate studies at the University of South Florida, majoring in Communication Science Disorders. Her passion for helping individuals communicate effectively led her to pursue a graduate degree. Tanisha is committed to making a positive impact on the lives of those with communication challenges and is eager to contribute her expertise to the field. Tanisha’s role in the lab is to contribute in literature review and data collection for our studies on memory and balance. She says that “Given the right opportunities and guidance, I believe I could develop a research passion and make a meaningful contribution to the field”.
Camila Barvo
Camila Barvo is a graduate student at FAU pursuing her MS degree in speech pathology and audiology. She earned a bachelor's in Neuroscience and Behavior at FAU in 2020. Her research interests started as an undergrad and, ever since, have grown. She is interested in the neuroscience scope of research to improve the health of others and wish to apply this knowledge in her future endeavors. Her roles in the lab includes participation in research on tinnitus and conditions such as balance skills in Parkinson Disease.
Jessica Kaplan
Jessica is currently enrolled as graduate student at Florida Atlantic University studying a Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology & Audiology. Prior to starting her master's program, she earned a Bachelor of Science in Communication Science and Disorders from Florida State University. Her research pursuits exhibit a broad spectrum of interest, which are defined by an overwhelming passion for acquiring knowledge and applying it to contribute to the betterment of individuals. She believes that the acquisition of new knowledge provides researches with the ability to enhance the quality of life for their target populations. Her roles in the lab are concentrated on balance control and memory function in individuals with Parkinson Disease.
Amanda Balash
Amanda Balash is 2nd year medical student at the Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine at Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, FL. She graduated summa cum laude with a BS in Biological Sciences from Florida Atlantic University as a National Merit Scholar and a part of FAU’s BS/MD MedDirect Program. She is interested in pursuing a career in otolaryngology and continuing to do research in the field. Her research interests are concentrated on balance control and memory function in individuals with and without auditory dysfunction. She is also interested in auditory disorders in the ASD population.
Avraham Adelman
Avraham (Avi) Adelman is a medical student (Class of 2025) at Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine at Florida Atlantic University (FAU), in Boca Raton, FL. He majored in Exercise Science and Health Promotion and graduated with a BS from FAU. Prior to medical school, he gained experience in ENT as a scribe and medical assistant for over 2 years. He has continually conducted ENT research throughout medical school, and is particularly interested in neurotology as a hopeful future ENT. His research interests are concentrated on balance control and memory function in individuals with a history of COVID.
Amanda and Avi have participated in scholarly activities in our lab and have the following presentations:
- Pelah, A. Adelman, A. Balash, J. Mitchell, X. Chen Cai, Z. Starkey, S. Shah, W. Tam, E. Barenholtz, G. Fields, X. Levy, A. Danesh. A Gait Analysis Pilot Study on Vestibular Dysfunction in Post COVID patients. Virtual oral presentation delivered at: 1st International Vestibular and Balance Disorder Conference; November 29-39, 2023; Universiti Sains Malaysia.
- Balash, AM, Adelman, AE & Danesh, A. Hyperacusis in Autism Spectrum Disorders: A Case Study. Nov 2023. Florida Combined Otolaryngology Meeting, Orlando, FL.
- Pelah, A, Adelman, AE, Balash, AM, Mitchel, J, Chen Cai, X, Starkey, Z, Shah, S, Tam, W, Barenholtz E, Fields, G, Levy, X & Danesh, A. Vestibular Dysfunction as a Manifestation of Long-COVID: A Gait Analysis Study. Nov 2023. Florida Combined Otolaryngology Meeting, Orlando, FL.
Isaac Elijah
Isaac Elijah is a medical student (Class of 2027) at the Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine at Florida Atlantic University. He graduated summa cum laude with a BS in Biotechnology from the University of Central Florida, where he wrote and defended a thesis as part of the Honors Program. He is interested in pursuing a career in otolaryngology and continues to gain experience in the field. His research interests are concentrated on vestibular dysfunction and cognitive impairment. He is also participating in research on novel therapies for tinnitus management.
The pictures below show some of our activities:
The Lab
