British Tinnitus Association Announces Record Funding Donation For Tinnitus Research

Main Category: Ear, Nose and Throat
Article Date: 20 Nov 2008 - 2:00 PDT

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The British Tinnitus Association (BTA) is donating a record £230,000 funding grant for a three-year tinnitus research post at University College London (UCL) Ear Institute in the search for a cure for the condition.

The donation will be used to support a Senior Research Associate post and a small team of researchers, working in a leading multi-disciplinary research facility.

The project aims to lay the foundations of a proper understanding of tinnitus by exploring potential causes at multiple stages of the auditory pathway - with the goal of developing strategies for early diagnosis, identification of susceptible individuals and ultimately finding a way to abolish the causes of this debilitating condition.

Chairman of the BTA Roy Bratby said: "At least ten per cent of the adult population in the UK has tinnitus and it can cause great distress to sufferers and their families. The British Tinnitus Association is committed to finding a cure for the condition and we hope that our research funding is the first step towards this crucial goal."

Roland Schaette, an experienced tinnitus researcher, will hold the Senior Research Associate post at UCL. Schaette has written a number of publications on tinnitus and hearing, has extensive experience in researching the auditory system and has presented at tinnitus conferences across the globe.

Schaette aims to find a comprehensive theory for the development of tinnitus. He hopes to do this by developing an understanding of how hearing loss can lead to tinnitus and find out how to reverse the changes that initially cause the condition. Studies of animals, people currently suffering from tinnitus and computer models will be used to carry out the research. Schaette will work in close collaboration with a number of experts at the UCL Ear Institute.

Roland Schaette said: "My goal is to understand how hearing loss through damage to the inner ear can lead to tinnitus. When the auditory system tries to compensate for hearing loss, tinnitus can arise as a side effect. Ultimately we will try to directly revert the changes to alleviate tinnitus and hopefully find new treatments for the condition."

David McAlpine, Professor of Auditory Neuroscience and Director, UCL Ear Institute said: "The BTA's commitment to funding a research fellowship marks a significant step in the search for a cure for tinnitus. Here at the Ear Institute, we believe that the most fruitful approach to finding a cure lies in understanding how the healthy auditory system works and how it is perturbed by tinnitus. In partnership with the BTA, the Ear Institute will be able to develop a programme of research that brings a wide range of scientific disciplines to bear on the investigation of tinnitus."

The British Tinnitus Association (BTA)

The BTA was set up as an independent charity in 1991 and now supports thousands of tinnitus sufferers and advises medical professionals from across the world.

The experienced team at the BTA understands the impact that tinnitus can have on the lives of sufferers and those who live with them, so provides the most appropriate and expert advice and information free of charge - via a free helpline on 0800 018 0527 and online at http://www.tinnitus.org.uk. The BTA also offers printed information and audio support via post.

The UCL Ear Institute

The UCL Ear Institute is a multi disciplinary facility which opened in January 2005 with the remit of 'understanding hearing and fighting deafness'.

The Ear Institute houses state of the art facilities encompassing genetics, molecular and cellular biology, developmental biology, cell physiology, electrophysiology including cochlear physiology, cochlear biophysics and modelling, psychoacoustics, audiological science and medical imaging and its clinical interface.

UCL Ear Institute