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<p>The Department funds research mainly through the National Institute for Health
Research (NIHR). The usual practice of the NIHR and other research funders is not
to ring-fence funds for expenditure on particular topics. The NIHR welcomes funding
applications for research into any aspect of human health, including hearing aid technology.</p><p>In
2017-18 the NIHR was supporting four studies related to hearing aid technology and
improving the use of hearing aids through its research infrastructure in the National
Health Service. Between 2017 and 2019, the NIHR Clinical Research Network supported
eight clinical studies related to hearing aid technology.</p><p>The NIHR funds three
Biomedical Research Centres (BRCs) which have research themes related to hearing loss,
deafness and hearing health. The total NIHR investment in these three BRC research
themes over the five years from 1 April 2017 is £10.9 million. This includes the Manchester
BRC that has established the United Kingdom’s only Hearing Device Research Centre
to drive innovation in interventions for hearing loss and to accelerate the translation
of new hearing technologies into the NHS.</p><p> </p>
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