The Conditions for Adoption of Stem Cell Therapies for Hearing

Objectives: Hearing impairment is commonly due to degeneration and death of hair cells and or their associated spiral ganglion neuron as a result of noise trauma, infection, ototoxic drugs, metabolic disorders, ageing and the inability to replace lost or damaged hair cells by regeneration or cell division. The use of stem cells offers new and powerful strate-gies for future tissue development and engineering. Cell replacement therapy potential-ly could have a massive impact on health during the coming decades. This research the-sis focus on the translational process required to move stem cell therapy from the labor-atory to clinical use, as novel treatment of deafness and as an alternative to current treatment modalities. This research aims to inform and enable the adoption process for such a therapy. Methods: Three main questions: 1- What is the current evidence on the performance of stem cells as a potential treatment for deafness? Literature search and systematic review on the current scientific evidence for stem cell therapy. 2- What does the clinical community require to adopt stem cells therapy? Approach the expert clinical community via a structured questionnaire, to study their awareness and attitudes towards stem cell therapy. 3- What is the service requirement needed to adopt stem cell therapies? Analysis of the current position for stem cell therapy from the developer, commissioner and potential adaptors perspectives, particularly with respect to the maturity and ap-plicability of this therapy. This includes analysis of the socio-economic status of this putative therapy. Conclusion: There is a clear therapeutic and economic opportunity to move cell based therapy for hearing from the laboratory into the clinic. Key potential adaptors need to be persuaded of the utility of such a therapy by the communication of its biological plausibility, and it is for researchers, developers and suppliers to take the initiative on this.