Researchers from Swansea University, Cardiff University and Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board awarded Research Fellowship to spearhead a pioneering project on AI detection of brain white matter lesions and their correlation with hearing loss, tinnitus, and balance issues.
Helen Slade is an Audiology Lecturer at Swansea University and has been working part time at Audiology in Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board (CTMUHB). In the course of her work, she has focused on a project centred on the artificial intelligence (AI) detection of brain white matter lesions and their association with hearing loss, tinnitus and balance problems. The original research idea started as a simple exploratory discussion between Dr Jonathan Arthur, Consultant Clinical Scientist, Head of Audiology at CTMUHB and Dr Emma Richards, Senior Research Officer from the Centre for Ageing and Dementia Research (CADR) at Swansea University. This was the starting point for a research collaboration between a diverse group of researchers.
As well as Jonathan and Emma, Helen will lead the research partnership between Professor Andrea Tales, Co-Director of CADR, Professor Huw Summers, Head of the Biomedical Engineering Department, both from Swansea University & Antony Bayer, Emeritus Professor of Geriatric Medicine, Cardiff University.
Initially this research was funded by a small grant that Dr Emma Richards at The Centre for Ageing and Dementia Research (CADR) had secured. The initial funding allowed Helen to consolidate and prepare research ethics and other relevant documentation such as information for potential research participants in readiness for data collection.
Helen has now successfully secured a Research Fellowship from the Research Capacity Building Collaboration in Wales (RCBC Wales). As part of the research fellowship award, it will allow for the continuation of this project. Helen will now take up possibly one of, if not the first part time “Clinical Research Fellow in Audiology” role in NHS Wales. As a Fellow, Helen will attend Community of Scholars bimonthly meetings, which provide the opportunity to network and acquire unique research knowledge and skills.
If you're interested in finding out more about this research, you'll be able to keep up to date with findings on the Cwm Taf Morgannwg UHB website. If you'd like further information please contact Helen Slade, Research Audiologist & Lecturer via email: helen.slade@wales.nhs.uk / h.m.slade@swansea.ac.uk or
Dr Emma Richards via email: e.v.richards@swansea.ac.uk.