Macquarie University and Cochlear re-sign partnership

Professor David McAlpine, Director of Hearing Research at the Australian Hearing Hub, with NSW Minister for Trade and Industry, Primary Industries and Regional Water, Niall Blair

Macquarie University supports Cochlear on a range of activities and its partnership is formalised under a memorandum of understanding, which was re-signed on 11 June for a duration of five years.

Vice-Chancellor Professor S Bruce Dowton says the partnership between Macquarie University and Cochlear showcases true interdisciplinary collaboration.

“By 2050 over 900 million people will have a disabling hearing loss. We and our partners are investing in our people and partnerships on a grand scale to address an issue that has significant implications for wellbeing, communication and cognitive health. We are affecting change by working with the WHO, Governments, Industry and other academic partners to help address this major health priority,” says Professor Dowton.

Together, Macquarie University and Cochlear are in agreement on the potential for NSW to export its hearing expertise in technology, research and translation, clinical practice (pre-clinical and clinical trials), education, training, and professional development, with a strategic focus on China.

Initial steps to communicate this strategic intent with the state government occurred on 25 June, with NSW Minister for Trade and Industry, Primary Industries and Regional Water, Niall Blair visiting the headquarters of Cochlear to tour the manufacturing of its latest technologies and discuss plans for an investment growth push into China.

As part of his visit, Minister Blair also toured the anechoic chamber, located within Macquarie University’s Australian Hearing Hub, where some of the country’s leading hearing and healthcare organisations collaborate with researchers on ground-breaking research projects to deliver integrated care across clinical disciplines.

Cochlear Chief Financial Officer Brent Cubis says the World Health Organisation estimates 96 million people in China have disabling hearing loss creating a strong market opportunity for Australia’s hearing expertise.

“Cochlear is also collaborating with the Sichuan Innovation and Entrepreneurship Promotion Association to promote a new co-located, multi-disciplinary hearing health precinct – the Sino-Australia International Hearing Hub – modelled on the Australian Hearing Hub at Macquarie University. It will host a range of hearing health-related organisations to facilitate collaboration and to assist in improving access to hearing healthcare,” says Cubis.

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