Award for NUI Maynooth researcher

Minister for Science, Technology and Innovation, Conor Lenihan TD today announced that Dr Ross O’Neill, a researcher at NUI Maynooth who is developing a revolutionary treatment for Tinnitus, is the winner of the Enterprise Ireland ‘One to Watch’ Award 2010.

Tinnitus is a distressing condition commonly known as 'ringing in the ears', which affects up to 1 in 7 people.

Presenting the award Minister Lenihan said: 'this award recognises the commercial potential of Government supported projects, through Enterprise Ireland, that have the capacity to make a major social or economic impact once brought to the market-place.'

Minister Lenihan presented the award to Dr O’Neill at the Enterprise Ireland Applied Research Forum in front of 250 academic researchers gathered to look at ways to increase the amount of commercially valuable research that is  transferred from third level institutions into Irish industry.

‘Dr O’Neill’s development has the potential to dramatically improve the lives of millions of people living with Tinnitus.

‘His work with fellow researchers in the Hamilton Institute at NUI Maynooth and his collaboration with clinicians and industry in the area is now being commercialised.

‘With the support of Enterprise Ireland and the Commercialisation Office at NUI Maynooth this revolutionary treatment for  Tinnitus should soon be available to help all those who are currently told there is nothing that can be done to help them.

‘This is an excellent example of the Irish technology transfer system in action,’ the Minister concluded.

Tinnitus is the perception of sound in the ears or head where no external source is present. It can be heard as ringing, hissing, static, screeching, whooshing, roaring, pulsing, buzzing, or even music.

A recent study for the Irish Tinnitus Association by Pat Naughton PhD found that at any one time, 15,000 to 20,000 people Irish people have persistent tinnitus where it has a negative effect on their quality of life and can lead to anxiety, insomnia, and depression.

While it is more prevalent in older people, tinnitus is the most commonly reported injury arising from the conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq and is experienced temporarily by 75% of 18 to 30 year-olds who go to nightclubs and concerts.

There is currently no known cure for the condition but Dr. O’Neill and his collaborator Mr. Brendan Conlon, a Surgical Ear Nose & Throat Consultant in St.  James Hospital Dublin, are confident that the technology, which is called ‘MuteButton’ and was developed using commercialisation funding from Enterprise Ireland, will change that.

The initial research involved was funded by Science Foundation Ireland and the National Digital Research Centre is also funding the project.

Accepting the award, Dr O’Neill, who is currently a Post-Doctoral Research Fellow based in the Hamilton Institute, NUI Maynooth said: ‘I am delighted to accept this award on behalf of the team who have contributed to the development of this treatment for tinnitus.

‘The clinical trials of our MuteButton technology will be happening soon. This is one of the final steps in getting this product to the marketplace. With the support of Enterprise Ireland and the Commercialisation Office at NUI Maynooth I look forward to making MuteButton available as a product to help the millions of tinnitus sufferers out there.'

The Commercialisation office at NUI Maynooth and Enterprise Ireland are working with Dr O’Neill to establish a spin-out company to commercialise MuteButton this year. 63 such spin-out companies have emerged from Irish Higher Education  Institutes with Enterprise Ireland support in the last 3 years.

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