Research strategy

Deafness Research UK exists to secure radical improvements in the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of all forms of hearing and listening impairment. Ultimately, our aim is to find cures for these distressing and neglected disabilities.

In pursuit of these aims, since its foundation in 1985, the charity has awarded more than £9 million in research grants for research in UK universities and hospitals.

The charity is committed to making a unique contribution to the research community; adding value by providing funding not available from other sources and focusing on projects within units recognised as contributing strategically to the good of deafness research within the UK.

Principles

The charity's research grants programme is guided by the following principles:

• Relevance to prevention, diagnosis, treatment or cure of disorders of hearing and listening
• Excellence, timeliness and originality of science
• Clearly defined short, medium and long term impact on those affected by hearing and listening disorders
• Financial need – no other obvious or more appropriate source of funding

Contributing to sustainability

The charity has a particular interest in contributing to the sustainability of deafness research in the UK. By developing the research of talented young investigators, the charity aims to build the capacity of UK hearing research and ensure that high quality research will continue to be undertaken here in the future.

Facilitating the strategic development of UK-based research

The charity also aims to provide support to mainly shorter-term projects which make a strategic contribution to UK hearing research and, where appropriate, to develop nationwide funding programmes reflecting expertise in the UK and specific objectives of relevance to hearing impaired people.

Supporting centres of excellence

Deafness Research UK is also keen to give support in the form of agreed funding packages to recognised centres of excellence where there is an exceptional opportunity for furthering the cause of deafness research in the UK.

Partnerships

The charity is keen to build partnerships with other funding and research organisations where appropriate and to promote networks and dialogue between disciplines in order to maximise the effectiveness of its funding.

Given its unique position linking those affected by hearing problems, scientists and clinicians, the charity also has a particular interest in the dissemination of research results to the wider community.

Priorities

In practice, grants are concentrated on the following priority areas:

• Fundamental molecular, cellular and developmental research leading ultimately to prevention and medical treatments for hearing loss
• Early detection of deafness and hearing rehabilitation programmes
• Causes and treatment of conductive hearing loss
• Genetics of deafness
• Improving benefit from hearing aids
• Improving benefit from cochlear implants
• Central auditory processing
• Causes and treatment of tinnitus

Applications for funding from Deafness Research UK must demonstrate how the research fits with the charity’s research strategy and priority areas. However, these priority areas are not exhaustive and promising work outside of these areas can still be considered.

Types of grant

Grants are largely response-mode and are only available for research where the principal investigator is based in a recognised research centre, university or hospital in the UK. The following types of grant are available:

• Pilot and feasibility studies and other small projects
• One-, two- and occasionally three-year projects
• Postgraduate studentships (awarded to supervisors – project based assessment)
• Equipment and infrastructure
• Travel
• Vacation scholarships
• Scientific meetings

Peer review

All awards are approved by the charity's trustees taking advice from the research advisory panel and external experts using an agreed process of peer review. However, the charity is mindful of the value of flexibility and rapid response where this can be achieved without compromising the principles of peer review and best practice. The charity's grants programme is monitored for its effectiveness and grant outcomes are assessed to ensure that the programme continues to deliver progress towards genuine benefits to the deaf and hard of hearing community.

This research strategy was developed with the advice of the charity's research advisory panel and is reviewed each year to ensure that it continues to guide the most effective use of the charity's funds.

Download

To download a pdf of our research strategy, click on the following link: 

Research strategy (pdf file, 34kb)