Project description
A closer look at hearing restoration
Profound hearing impairment affects millions of people, making everyday communication a challenge and reducing their quality of life. Despite advances, there remains an unmet medical need for better solutions that go beyond traditional hearing restoration methods. The EIC-funded OptoWavePro project is taking on this challenge by pursuing a new approach to hearing restoration. The team is developing an optical stimulator for a new generation of cochlear implants that capitalises on optogenetics to restore near-natural hearing. This optical cochlear implant will integrate laser diodes and waveguides, offering a new level of precision. By addressing both safety and effectiveness, the project aims to transform the lives of those living with profound hearing loss, helping them reconnect through conversations and fully participate in everyday activities.
Objective
OptoWavePro aims to develop a human prototype for an optical stimulator for optogenetic hearing restoration in individuals with profound hearing impairment. Leveraging optogenetics and biomedical engineering, we strive to restore near-natural hearing by precise optogenetic control of the auditory nerve for which we obtained preclinical proof. Our multidisciplinary team will design, fabricate, and validate the stimulator, emphasizing safety, efficacy, and regulatory compliance. Preclinical studies will validate efficacy, reliability, and biocompatibility, to prepare clinical trials.
The OptoWavePro consortium will introduce a new paradigm of integrating arrays of laser diodes, micro-lenses and polymer-based waveguides on minimal space for the optical stimulator to meet the required form factor of the optical cochlear implant. We will facilitate the upscaling of optical stimulation channels by combining custom-designed and complementary elements with lateral channel pitches of only 100 micrometers throughout the optical pathway. Our biomedical engineering focusses on achieving efficacy and safety by housing all electronic components in a hermetically sealed titanium housing with optical feedthroughs and efficient and stable light in- and outcoupling of the waveguide array. The optical cochlear implant has the potential to revolutionize hearing restoration, merging scientific innovation with clinical impact, and transforming lives globally.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques.
- natural scienceschemical sciencesinorganic chemistrytransition metals
- natural sciencesphysical sciencesopticslaser physics
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Keywords
Programme(s)
- HORIZON.3.1 - The European Innovation Council (EIC) Main Programme
Funding Scheme
HORIZON-EIC - HORIZON EIC GrantsCoordinator
37075 Goettingen
Germany