On Thursday 14 May, Ear Science Institute Australia announced a new partnership with Apollo Hospitals India at their annual Gift of Hearing Gala.
Hearing loss affects hundreds of millions of people worldwide, with genetics playing a significant role across the lifespan. Around 60 per cent of children born with hearing loss are estimated to have a genetic cause, and inherited factors are believed to contribute to up to half of adult‑onset hearing loss. As advances in genomics and emerging gene therapies offer new hope, global collaboration is increasingly critical to accelerating discovery and translation into patient care.
Apollo Hospital’s greatest capability along with direct patient care is its strength in digital health transformation which allows them to reach hundreds of millions of people both in India and around the world. With 76 hospitals, 11,000+ beds and access to patient populations from 180+ countries, Apollo and their integrated healthcare ecosystem including their latest vertical Apollo Health Axis are an obvious match as we build out the Aussie Ear Bank.
Adjunct Associate Professor Sandra Bellekom, Chief Executive Officer of Ear Science said “As a Western Australia–based institute with a strong global outlook, Ear Science is proud to be partnering with Apollo to strengthen the Aussie Ear Bank and accelerate genomic research. This collaboration creates new opportunities to translate cutting‑edge science — including emerging gene therapies — into real‑world impact for children and adults affected by inherited hearing loss in Australia.”
The parties will work together to identify priority initiatives under the partnership, including early opportunities in tele‑genetic counselling, genomic data partnerships and collaborative research programs, subject to appropriate governance, ethics and regulatory approvals.
