Duke of York backs appeal for centre to cure deafness
3 May 2006
HRH the Duke of York is backing Deafness Research UK's appeal to raise money for a new London-based research centre whose central mission will be to restore hearing to deaf people and to prevent deafness in those at risk.
Deafness is the second most common disability in the UK, affecting almost nine million people. The new Ear Institute at UCL was officially opened today (3 May 2006) and brings together nine leading research teams to create a world-class centre in hearing research.
The Duke, who is Patron of Deafness Research UK, attended a private view of the Institute last night (2nd May) to support the charity’s appeal to raise money to attract the best young scientists to work at the Institute.
Speaking at the event, HRH the Duke of York said: "The UCL Ear Institute is bringing the full range of scientific disciplines together under one roof for the first time in an attempt to understand the whole hearing process from the outer ear to the brain. I’m delighted to be supporting Deafness Research UK’s appeal to raise urgently needed funds to help fill the Institute with the young, talented scientists it needs to carry out its research programmes, and I wish them every success in the future."
The Ear Institute is housed in a specially designed building next to the Royal National Throat, Nose and Ear Hospital in London and was built with a £9million grant from the Wellcome Trust.
Deafness Research UK's appeal aims to raise urgently needed funds to attract the very best young scientists into the field of hearing research through a programme of four-year postgraduate PhD studentships. They will join the Institute’s internationally renowned research teams to conduct ground-breaking research into the causes, prevention and treatment of deafness. The appeal will also raise funds for essential materials, a Research Fellow and other research posts.
Vivienne Michael, Chief Executive of Deafness Research UK said: "Talented young scientists are the key to accelerating progress towards finding ways of curing or preventing deafness. Our appeal aims to help the Ear Institute fill its labs with the researchers it needs to make the breakthroughs that will transform life for millions of deaf and hard of hearing people."
The Ear Institute takes an interdisciplinary approach to try and understand exactly how the ear works and how it goes wrong. Research at the Institute includes molecular biology, genetics, neurosciences, and biophysics. It is the first time all of these techniques have been brought together in one place in the UK, creating a centre with the critical size and range of skills needed to properly investigate and understand the workings of the whole auditory system.
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Notes to editors
Deafness Research UK is Britain's only charity dedicated to funding medical research into deafness and is committed to creating a world where no one has to live with hearing loss and the problems it brings. For more information about their work please visit www.deafnessresearch.org.uk or call (020) 7833 1733.
Deaf Awareness Week takes place all week (1-7 May 2006).
Pictures available – contact the press office on (020) 7837 8092.
