Dr Christo Bester has been awarded $137,872 for his project on diagnostics in cochlear implant recipients to better understand the healing process.
The state government Future Health Research and Innovation (FHRI) Innovation Fellowships program seeks to build capability in health and medical-related innovation in Western Australia.
The program is designed to encourage talented Western Australians to enhance their innovative knowledge, skills and experience, in conjunction with the nominated experts who perform a mentor role.
Commenting on what the award will mean, Christo said, “The funding from the WA’s FHRI Fund will enable new research into understanding how a person’s healing response to cochlear implantation affects their ability to use the device. This work is going to open new treatment & counselling opportunities after a person receives their cochlear implant to help them have the best possible outcomes now and for the rest of their life. This work is innovative as it will pave the way for Ear Science to develop drug therapies to further enhance the patient experience and outcomes”.
The Funding will support world-renowned research at Ear Science Institute Australia, the only medical research institute in Australia dedicated to ear and hearing disorders.
To learn more about the Hearing Implant Clinic see here. For more information on research at Ear Science Institute Australia see here.