Deafness Research UK sponsored the inaugural meeting for Ciliopathy Awareness Day on 29 November, held at the Institute of Child Health at University College London. Deafness Research UK’s sponsorship means that the top experts from around the country specialising the clinical areas surrounding Ciliopathy were able to attend, bringing everyone together for launch of the newly-formed Ciliopathy Alliance UK.

Deafness Research UK has awarded £15,000 towards a project at the University of Oxford and the Medical Research Council Mammalian Genetics Unit, Harwell looking into the genetics of ‘glue ear’ (Otitis Media). The contribution will go towards extending the research work in four NHS hospitals in Scotland to obtain genetic information from over 300 families. The project hopes to discover what the genetic causes of ear inflammation are, with the hope of understanding, treating and preventing this common problem.

Following the success last year of the first Recent Advances in Paediatric Audiology (RAPA) meeting, which was designed specifically to increase interaction and knowledge sharing between the clinic and the laboratory in the field of paediatric audiology, a second RAPA meeting was held in London in March as part of the NHS National Knowledge Week for Hearing.

Deafness Research UK has joined forces with researchers at Southampton University to give schoolchildren and their families a rare opportunity to shape the future diagnosis and treatment of glue ear.

Antibiotics used in some hospital settings seriously damage the hearing of children with a relatively common genetic mutation.

The new vaccine, SynflorixTM, designed to protect children against invasive pneumococcal diseases such as meningitis and invasive pneumonia and bacterial respiratory infections, such as acute middle ear infections (otitis media) has been reviewed by the European Medicines Agency (EMEA) and recommended for approval. The European Marketing Authorisation for the vaccine is expected to be granted in the coming months.

A history of severe ear infections or tonsil trouble may increase the chances of being obese later in life, according to scientists. However, a number of UK experts raised doubts about the findings, with one saying a link was "extremely unlikely".

Researchers find no statistically significant effect of antibiotic treatment at preventing middle ear effusion.

A new vaccine, SynflorixTM, designed to protect children against invasive pneumococcal diseases such as meningitis and invasive pneumonia and bacterial respiratory infections, such as acute middle ear infections (otitis media) has been accepted for review by the European Medicines Agency (EMEA).