Quantum leap in science could restore hearing

May 26, 2011 - PRLog -- Over the past 20 years, there have been some amazing advances in technology giving the sensation of hearing to deaf children and adults around the world, such as cochlear implants and sophisticated hearing aids. Now, there is a possibility that even greater scientific advances could lead to a “biological” cochlea replacement to completely overcome deafness in the future.

The conference, “Tissue Engineering in the Auditory System” - will be held at The Royal Society, London on Thursday, 2nd June 2011, at 09:30am. It has been organised by Professor Gerard O’Donoghue, a global pioneer in non-invasive cochlear implantation for children and Dr Marcelo Rivolta, Senior Research Fellow at the Centre for Stem Cell Biology at Sheffield University.

Professor O’Donoghue says: “Although perhaps still an aspirational concept, the ‘coming of age’ of new developments in regenerative medicine and bioengineering suggests that the technology is ripe to face this challenge.

“In order to devise a strategy for the restoration of hearing, we need to overcome many hurdles, such as understand the structure of the cochlear in health and after injury. We can learn a lot about this from scientists working with the other major sensory organ, the eye. We can also draw from experience in tissue engineering and draw parallels that could facilitate their application to hearing pathways.”

Dr Rivolta adds: “The combined application of stem cells with biomaterials and electronic devices could dawn a new age for cochlear prosthesis in the future. The difficulties we are facing are still substantial, but we need to start addressing them now for the promise of these technologies to materialise. Discussing about these challenges is what this meeting is about”.

The panel of speakers will address some of the most fundamental issues necessary to make this challenge a reality.

All enquiries should be made to Sam Devanney at the Ear Foundation, sam@earfoundation.org.uk. Tel: 0115 942 1985. To register and for more information visit: http://www.earfoundation.org.uk/education/articles/644

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NOTES TO EDITORS:

The conference will be held at The Royal Society, Carlton House Terrace, 6-9 Carlton House Terrace, London SW1Y 5AG

For further information on attending the conference and for interviews: Sam Devanney at the Ear Foundation. Tel: 0115 942 1985.

Sue Archbold, Chief Executive,The Ear Foundation: Tel: 07834 362169. Dr Marcelo Rivolta Tel: 07716162047.

Prof Gerard O’Donoghue Tel: 07970091724.

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