Looking forward to the next 25 years of hearing research

11 June 2010

This year marks the silver jubilee for Deafness Research UK, and with 300 scientists supported over the last 25 years, our work has made a real difference to deaf people’s lives through the research work we have funded and the advice offered by our information service.

As part of the celebrations, we held a prestigious reception in the State Apartments, St James’s Palace in the presence of our Patron His Royal Highness, The Duke of York KG with an invited audience of researchers, supporters and many of those who have benefited from our work. At the event we launched our new Auditory Centres of Excellence Initiative which aims to expand hearing research teams across the country. 

We also celebrated some of our major scientific advances that have helped the deaf community immeasurably including testing hearing in newborn children, cochlear implants and revolutions in genetic research. Our Chief Research Adviser, Quentin Summerfield, Professor Department of Psychology, The University of York highlighted the contribution Deafness Research UK makes towards funding scientists, and particularly in supporting early career researchers, when funding is very difficult to secure. For more on our achievements and our plans for the future, read our anniversary booklet ‘Better treatment today, hope for tomorrow: 25 years of hearing research' .

The future for the next 25 years in hearing research is very exciting. Research could deliver better cochlear implants and hearing aids, particularly devices that help people to hear speech, in noisy environments for example. Stem cell research may enable us to prevent deafness in adults, particularly deafness in middle age and perhaps even cure children who are born deaf. Drugs could also be developed to help tinnitus, and these may go hand in hand with cognitive-enhancing drugs that could help older people to listen more effectively.

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