Our group are vision and hearing scientists working to improve the lives of individuals with neurodegenerative visual, hearing and balance disorders.
Vision
Vision scientists study the mechanisms of neurodegeneration in optic nerve and retinal diseases, with a particular focus on glaucoma, inherited optic neuropathies and Stickler syndrome.
We are exploring new technology to diagnose disease and monitor progression to improve patient care. Crucially, we are developing innovative treatments to protect and regenerate the optic nerve and retina using a multimodal approach, including neuroprotective drugs, gene therapy and stem cells.
To support these ambitious aims, the Cambridge Clinical Vision Laboratory (CCVL) was set up to enhance our capacity to conduct advanced therapeutic studies for ocular and neurological diseases in Cambridge.
We work closely with patient organisations and industry, and these ongoing collaborations have enabled disease gene discovery, deep phenotyping and biomarker profiling leading to personalised therapies.
The group also houses vitreoretinal research, enhancing the understanding of retinal detachment.
Hearing
The Hearing Scientists are made up of, the SENSE lab, the SOUND lab, and a clinical trials/studies group called the Cambridge Ear and Balance Institute. We collaborate closely with the Cochlear Implant lab at the MRC CBU unit (led by Dr Bob Carlyon). Our groups also work together with many teams in the Cambridge Hearing Group to maximise benefit to adults and children with hearing loss and/or balance issues.
Current projects in the SENSE Lab (led by Manohar Bance) include developing novel sensors to measure electrical stimulation spread in cochlear implant models and patients, novel psychoacoustic and electrophysiology tests to determine auditory lesion site, development of wearable technologies to interrogate relevant physiology and its dysfunction in the patient’s environment, and new multimodal sensory tools for balance rehabilitation.
The SOUND lab (Sensory Optimisation Using Neuroscience for Devices; led by Deborah Vickers) is funded by grants from the MRC, NIHR and Industry. We use electrophysiology, virtual-reality tools, near-infrared spectroscopy, psychophysics and tests of perception to understand brain mechanisms for auditory processing. We currently focus on combining information from different modalities (e.g. hearing aids, cochlear implants, vision, haptics and also bilateral cochlear implants). Our aim is to improve real-world hearing, speech and language abilities and music enjoyment for adults and children using hearing devices.
The Cambridge Ear and Balance Institute supports the integration of translational research into very large clinical flow in the Otology, Neurology, Skull Base and Auditory Implants programme at Addenbrooke’s hospital. Focussing on: objective measures of pathophysiological mechanisms underlying patient symptoms and disease manifestations, b) in-vitro and computational models for inner ear therapeutics c) brain measurements of auditory activity and processing d) clinical trials of auditory therapeutics.
Principal Investigators
Mr Patrick Axon
Prof Manohar Bance
Mr Daniele Borsetto
Miss Tasneem Khatib
Mr Thomas Nixon
Mr Matthew Smith
Mr Martin Snead
Mr James Tysome
Dr Deborah Vickers