20
Annual Report and Financial Statements 2015–16
“I’ve always been surrounded by music. Hearing to me is
the most important sense; it really does keep us connected.
Unfortunately, just as far back, I can remember my loved
ones developing hearing loss and tinnitus, slowly detaching
themselves from conversations and from music.
I hope my research will eventually provide a tool to help us
understand noise-induced hearing loss and, one day, may
help reverse the effects of noise trauma on hearing.”
Camille Tardieu
PhD student, UCL Ear Institute
We helped make scientific discoveries
•
We awarded five International Research Project grants. They will advance treatments
to regenerate cochlear hair cells, improve our understanding of auditory processing
disorder, advance the development of stem cell treatments for deafness, and improve
our understanding of how ‘hidden hearing loss’ develops and can be diagnosed.
•
Our research identified a gene, A2ML1, which increases the risk of developing glue ear.
These findings could lead to new treatments for glue ear, avoiding the need for children
to undergo surgery.
•
Our research also identified the first gene, SERPINF1, to cause otosclerosis (a condition
where the stirrup bone becomes fixed in place due to increased bone growth, stopping
the bone moving or conducting sound in the inner ear). This brings treatments for this
common cause of deafness in young adults a step closer.
•
Six small pilot studies, funded through our flexi-grant scheme, will enable us to consider
new paths of research.
“We have known for some time that otosclerosis can
be inherited, but until now the actual identity of the
genes involved has eluded us. Our discovery of the first
otosclerosis-causing gene is very significant as it tells us
about the biological processes involved in the development
of the condition.
With support from Action on Hearing Loss we are
continuing to search for more genes that cause this
common form of deafness.”
Dr Sally Dawson
Lecturer in Molecular Audiology, UCL Ear Institute