Building a research programme to help people cope with vestibular symptoms in Ménière's disease. Eighteen month Postdoctoral Fellowship, commenced January 2007. Dr Sarah Kirby, University of Southampton is a health psychology researcher. During the fellowship, Sarah will be raising awareness of how to help people to cope with Ménière's disease by publishing the results of her PhD work in journals, and presenting to health professionals at conferences. With Professor Yardley, Sarah is seeking funding for further research into other ways of helping Meniere's sufferers cope with the disease. Sarah will also be carrying out interviews and a questionnaire survey to try to learn more about the different patterns of symptoms and triggers of Ménière's attacks. This information will hopefully help people with Ménière's disease to better anticipate, understand and manage their attacks.
Where Will Current Theories of Ménière's Disease Take Future Clinical Practice? Novartis Foundation Discussion Meeting, London July 2006, chaired by Professor William Gibson, University of Sydney. The meeting, planned in collaboration with Mr Peter Rea, Consultant ENT Surgeon at University Hospital Leicester and Dr Humphrey Bowen, Ménière's Society (UK) Trustee for Research, enabled attendees to review recent research on Ménière's Disease as well as discuss problems and future directions. Topics included: The Structure & Function of the Endolymphatic Sac, Drug Delivery to the Inner Ear and The Meniett Device.
The Application of Vestibular Evoked Myogenic Potentials in the Diagnosis of Ménière's Disease, Dr Borka Ceranic and Professor Linda Luxon, National Hospital for Neurology & Neurosurgery, London. Completed 2005. The organ of balance is invariably affected in patients with Ménière's disease and patients present with symptoms suggesting involvement of both the semicircular canals and the otolith organs. Furthermore, microscopic post-mortem studies show that one of the otolith organs, the saccule, is the most consistently affected part of the organ of balance. The aim of this study was to evaluate the application of a new technique, vestibular evoked myogenic potentials (VEMPs) which are based on the proposed ability of the saccule to respond to stimulation by sounds or vibrations. The results of this project were presented by Dr Victor Osei-Lah, a member of the project team, at the Ménière's Society Conference in October 2006.
The Effect of Vestibular Nerve Section on Tinnitus. PhD study by David Baguley, Consultant Clinical Scientist, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge. Completed 2005. There were several studies involved in the project, but the most important considered an aspect of potential drug treatment for tinnitus. Traditionally, tinnitus has been poorly understood and little therapy has been available. However, we have known since the 1930s that using lidocaine, a local anaesthetic, intravenously inhibits tinnitus in the majority of people, but this is short-term and can include some serious side effects. Whilst this research does not yet provide us with a drug treatment for tinnitus, it is a major signpost in that direction, and hence should be an encouragement for the many people troubled with tinnitus.
The Ménière's Society has also provided bursaries for travel expenses and course fees to eligible academics and medical professionals to improve their understanding of Meniere's disease and exchange ideas.