Neuro-otology Laboratory

Ménière’s Disease is a hearing and balance disorder with no known cause, resulting in random attacks of severe rotational vertigo, constant tinnitus, a fluctuating hearing loss, a progressive loss of hearing and balance sensitivity, a feeling of pressure in the head and brain fog, and all the co-morbidities that come with these symptoms. Currently, it’s thought that an abnormal volume of fluid in the inner ear, obvious in MRI scans, is responsible for the symptoms of this disease. However, this may be just an epiphenomenon of the underlying pathology. Through both in vivo physiological experiments in guinea pigs, and human hearing and balance testing, we aim to determine the cause of Ménière’s Disease.

Dr Brown is currently seeking to recruit additional researchers and PhD students, with additional funds made available by Ménière’s Research Fund Inc http://www.menieresresearch.org.au/. Details of the research PhD scholarship.