Summary: Tinnitus Quest, a newly launched not-for-profit, aims to fund innovative research focused on silencing tinnitus symptoms.
Takeaways:
- Tinnitus Quest’s leadership includes three of five board members who live with tinnitus, ensuring that research initiatives reflect real-life experiences and community needs.
- Tinnitus affects one in ten people and is a common disability among U.S. veterans, yet there is currently no cure or effective treatment.
- The organization is committed to transparency, providing regular updates on research progress, while inviting community involvement in its mission to find a cure.
A new not-for-profit, Tinnitus Quest, is launching with a mission dedicated to funding innovative research with the goal of silencing tinnitus symptoms.
Tinnitus Quest combines a team of top tinnitus researchers and people living with tinnitus; three of the five executive board members live with the condition. This approach—centered on those affected—ensures that research initiatives are grounded in real-life experiences and driven by community needs, including insights from the vibrant online Tinnitus Talk community.
Scope of Tinnitus
One in ten people are thought to suffer from milder symptoms of tinnitus, according to the not-for-profit organization. Tinnitus is a common disability among U.S. veterans, who have higher rates of tinnitus than average due to noise exposure. Over 167,000 veterans were diagnosed with tinnitus in 2021, and over 2.5 million veterans are currently receiving disability benefits for it, according to Military.com.
Despite the prevalence and profound impact of tinnitus, no cure or effective treatment is available. Many sufferers are simply advised to “learn to live with it.”
“Tinnitus Quest believes this status quo is unacceptable,” says Sven Köllmann, founder of Tinnitus Quest. “We are committed to changing the narrative by funding agile research, investigating new research questions that have not been asked before, aimed at silencing tinnitus once and for all.”
More about Tinnitus Quest
Transparency is core to Tinnitus Quest’s ethos, according to the group. The organization pledges to provide clear, regular updates on research progress, celebrating successes and embracing the valuable lessons that failures can provide in advancing towards a cure.
“We invite everyone affected by tinnitus, as well as those passionate about medical research and advocacy, to join us in this crucial mission,” says Hazel Goedhart, co-founder. “You can be part of the solution.”
Main photo: Dreamstime
