Representatives across research, industry, and the NHS came together on October 11 to learn about Manchester Biomedical Research Centre’s (BRC) hearing health research, Manchester BRC announced.  The Hearing Health Showcase at The Manchester Museum was delivered in collaboration with the North West regional meeting of the British Academy of Audiology (BAA) and the British Society of Audiology (BSA).

According to the announcement, Manchester’s Hearing Health research is benefiting as part of a £28.5m (USD $37.5 million) investment through the NIHR Manchester BRC. The BRC’s Hearing Health research program spans prevention, diagnosis, and treatment. The program is designed to improve the lives of children and adults by preventing potentially devastating congenital and acquired deafness, diagnosing acquired deficits, and developing new treatments, according to Manchester BRC.

Professor Kevin J. Munro, director (research) of the Manchester Centre for Audiology and Deafness (ManCAD) and Manchester BRC Hearing Health lead said: “The Manchester BRC will help us to develop preventative strategies, and better ways of diagnosing and managing hearing problems, to deliver significant improvements for those affected.

“We realize our research is stronger if we include patients in the whole process so we’ve consulted with patients to identify what their urgent clinical needs are and they will be involved at every stage of the process.”

Julia Garlick, BRC Hearing Health, patient representative said: “The role of the patient representative is to contribute a patient’s perspective when the research is being designed and carried out. The hearing health program will bring great benefits to people of all ages with hearing loss, directly improving the health and wellbeing and quality of life through world-class research programs. I feel privileged to be associated with this work.”

As well as learning more about Manchester’s Hearing Health research programs, delegates were able to explore opportunities for collaboration as well as helping to shape Manchester’s development of a Hearing Device Research Centre, reportedly the United Kingdom’s only one of its kind.

The event included presentations from eminent audiology and hearing research staff including Professor Harvey Dillon, Professor David Moore (former director of the MRC Institute of Hearing Research), Professor Cynthia Morton, and Dr Michael Stone (formerly at University of Cambridge).

The BRC is also driving forward research in the areas of: musculoskeletal disease, respiratory disease, dermatology, and three cancer themes (prevention, radiotherapy, and precision medicine).

Professor Harvey Dillon, keynote speaker and professor of auditory science for the NHIR BRC Hearing Health said: “I’m delighted to join this incredibly important program of work and to help develop the UK’s only Hearing Device Research Centre. This event has provided an invaluable opportunity to directly engage with the hearing aid industry and clinical users of our research. Our research will benefit patients in the North West and indeed, throughout the world.”

Dave Fabry, vice president, global medical affairs said: “I travelled from the United States to attend this event as I was particularly keen to engage with the BRC around the Hearing Device Research Centre. This has been an important and exciting opportunity to learn more about this world leading research.”

Source: Manchester BRC

Image: © Ben Schonewille | Dreamstime