Role of immune cells in ear diseases
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Investigating local and systemic immune profile in ear diseases
IRAS ID
296521
Contact name
Paramita Baruah
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust
Duration of Study in the UK
3 years, 0 months, 0 days
Research summary
Inflammatory diseases affecting the ear constitute over 50% of attendances at primary care. Chronic otitis media (COM) results in draining ears and is a significant global heath burden (incidence rate of 4.76%, equalling 31 million cases) with associated morbidity and mortality, and accounts for over half of all hearing impairment. Chronic otitis media can cause bone destruction and damage important structures within the middle ear and could cause spread of infection to the brain resulting in serious conditions such as meningitis and brain abscess. Chronic infection of the external ear in the elderly and diabetic population can spread to the base of the skull with bone destruction and result in considerable morbidity and even fatality. This is also a significant health care challenge due to prolonged (over 6 months) treatment with iv antibiotics.
Very little is understood about the immune basis of why and how chronic infections of the ear develop and progress and cause bone destruction. This work will examine diseased and adjacent healthy tissues of the external and middle ear and analyse the cells involved in inflammation and bone destruction. This will hopefully allow for the development of new therapies targeting inflammation in the ear to reduce disease burden, improve the prognosis of patients and improve hearing outcomes.REC name
Yorkshire & The Humber - Leeds East Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
23/YH/0047
Date of REC Opinion
24 Apr 2023
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion