Australian-first biobank for genetic hearing loss coming to WA in a bid to develop new therapies and cures

An Australian-first biobank to store genetic tissue is being set up in WA in a bid to help advance treatments and cures for hearing loss. The Australasian Hearing Registry and Biobank, developed by Ear Science, will store genetic tissue linked to hearing loss with the goal of advancing personalised care, new treatments and even cures. There are 155 genes associated with hearing loss with about 50 per cent of kids with a hearing impairment having an identifiable genetic cause. Ear Science head of implant innovation Christo Bester said despite genetic hearing loss being extremely common there wasn’t many treatments or cures. “For a long time, the field of hearing loss therapies is focused on things like hearing aids and cochlear implants, and those are almost always going to be around,” he said. “One of the things we’re trying to do with the biobank is get a large collection of diagnostics and tissue from people who suffer genetic hearing loss, especially as kids, so we can accelerate therapies. “We are going to target some of the more common causes of gene-related hearing impairment. For the first time we’re not going to be trying to treat something, we’re going to be really trying to find a cure.” Three generations of one family — Les French, Jody French, and Hayden Maitland — have never known the cause of their hearing loss but they will now be one of the first to donate their genetic tissue to the biobank. Not only will this allow them to find out what genes cause their hearing loss but will also help to create treatments and cures for others. Mr French said the research now was astounding compared to what support there was when he was born with hearing loss in 1948. “One thing that will be really good is if it can help other people in the future because we had nothing when I was young,” he said. “They just gave you a hearing aid and that was it. There was no support and we didn’t have any assistance at school. “Even through working life, we just had a hearing aid, and you did the best you could.” The three generations now can hear with the help of cochlear implants but Ms French said the biobank could treat the cause for future generations of her family. “Hearing loss is getting more prevalent in our family with both my children having it so I think it’s really important with the work they’re doing just for future generations,” she said. “Australia-wide it will be game changing in the scientific field, which will flow through to us and future generations. “The genetic research that can come out of it could hopefully in the future almost prevent hearing loss.” The biobank will be set up in 2025 thanks to a $500,000 Future Health Research and Innovation grant, a $150,000 grant from the Ian Potter Foundation as well as Gift of Hearing donations. However, Dr Bester was calling on more funding to keep the much-needed research on track. “The continued use of a biobank is a tremendously expensive job,” he said. “Just the establishment was a big task and to keep it running we’re going to be trying to get both WA Government and Federal Government funding but we’re also looking at collecting philanthropic donations as well as dealing with any kind of commercial industry partners.”