Projects
- Luis Aurelio Castillo Vega
Luis Aurelio Castillo Vega is a two year old Peruvian boy who was
diagnosed with a Profound Bilateral Neurosensorial Auditive Loss
shortly after birth. Though his parents recognised the great
benefits of a cochlear implant, limited financial resources made
getting an implant impossible.
The Graeme Clark Foundation has made a major contribution towards a
cochlear implant for Luis and an American surgeon has donated his
services for Luis. His surgery has been completed and he is now
making good progress.
- Spinal Cord Research
The Baulkham Inner Wheel Club donated funds towards the
cost of equipment for spinal cord repair and an advanced bionic ear being
conducted through the bionics program at the Graeme Clark Centre for
Bionic Ear and Neurosensory Research at La Trobe University, which
is also part of the ARC Centre for Electromaterials at University of Wollongong.
- Temporal Bone Research
Rod Saunders, the first ever Cochlear Implant recipient passed away
in December 2007. The family have requested that Graeme Clark be
responsible for the chance to gain invaluable information about the
long term effects of cochlear implantation (30 years). This study,
being undertaken through the Graeme Clark Centre for Bionic Ear and
Neurosensory Research at La Trobe University, Howard Florey
Institute at the Austin Hospital and the Department of
Otolaryngology at The University of Melbourne, is
in progress under the leadership of Graeme Clark with already
interesting results.
- Brain Stem Implant
Brain stem implant research is being undertaken by Professor Tony
Paolini, Director of the Graeme Clark Centre for Bionic Ear and
Neurosensory Research, to determine how to place wires in the brain
and to copy the coding mechanisms for hearing. This will be a
significant help for deaf people where disease prevents standard
cochlear implants.
- Recognition of Speech Features for
Cochlear Implant Patients
A study in conjunction with the Communications Science Centre at La
Trobe University has commenced on a teenage patient with a cochlear
implant from England to determine how electrical signals are
interpreted as speech. This study is on a university student who
recently received the Cochlear Ltd Graeme Clark Scholarship in the
United Kingdom with the view to becoming a cochlear implant speech
scientist.
- Social Participation
Studies are planned to determine how deaf children and adults can
use their cochlear implants and/or hearing aids to best effect in
education and social settings. It is so important for them to be
integrated into society and learn to use the right strategies that
maximise their ability to communicate. Research is being undertaken
through collaboration between the Graeme Clark Centre for Bionic Ear
and Neurosensory Research and The Institute for Social Participation
at La Trobe University.
- Ear Disease and Deafness in Indigenous
Australians
Ear disease and deafness in indigenous Australians is present in 90%
of children. It is a major health problem and Graeme Clark has been
involved in finding solutions since being Chair of the Medical
Subcommittee of the Deafness Foundation of Victoria since 1975. The
Graeme Clark Foundation is planning to participate in an explorative
study into Aboriginal ear disease in conjunction with Stephen
O'Leary, William Gibson Professor of Otolaryngology at The
University of Melbourne.
- Secondary Education
Educational packages are being prepared for school students to
understand the physical and biological principles underlying the
cochlear implant. This will also include the personal story of how
the team achieved this world-leading development. It is
important to inspire the next generation of students to be
innovative and creative, and to have the patience and persistence
required to make ground-breaking discoveries.
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