British Tinnitus Association announces Shapiro Prize shortlist

10 May 2016 – The shortlist for the British Tinnitus Association’s (BTA) prestigious Marie and Jack Shapiro Prize has been announced. The prize will be awarded at the charity’s 23rd Annual Conference in Manchester on 22 September 2016.

This year’s shortlist comprises 12 papers which will be judged by the BTA’s Professional Advisers’ Committee. Six papers have been published by researchers based at NIHR Nottingham Hearing Biomedical Research Unit and a further two from the team at MRC Institute of Hearing Research. Researchers based at the Royal Hallamshire Hospital, Sheffield; The University of Sussex, Brighton; The Tinnitus Clinic London; and Newcastle University have also been shortlisted for their work. The shortlisted papers are:

The shortlisted papers are:

• Berger JI, Coomber B – Tinnitus-related changes in the inferior colliculus
• Fackrell K, Fearnley C, Hoare DJ, Sereda M – Hyperacusis Questionnaire as a Tool for Measuring Hypersensitivity to Sound in a Tinnitus Research Population
• Fackrell K, Hall DA, Barry JG, Hoare DJ – Psychometric properties of the Tinnitus Functional Index (TFI): Assessment in a UK research volunteer population
• Farr MRB, Moraleda Deleito J, Xu Y, Ray J - Developing a one-stop tinnitus service: outcomes of a joined up management strategy: a retrospective observational cohort study
• Greenwell K, Featherstone D, Hoare DJ - The Application of Intervention Coding Methodology to Describe the Tinnitus E-Programme, an Internet-Delivered Self-Help Intervention for Tinnitus
• Hoare DJ, Broomhead E, Stockdale D, Kennedy V - Equity and person-centeredness in provision of tinnitus services in UK National Health Service audiology departments
• Pierzycki RH, McNamara AJ, Hoare DJ, Hall DA - Whole scalp resting state EEG of oscillatory brain activity shows no parametric relationship with psychoacoustic and psychosocial assessment of tinnitus: A repeated measures study
• Sedley W, Parikh J, Edden RA, Tait V, Blamire A, Griffiths TD - Human Auditory Cortex Neurochemistry Reflects the Presence and Severity of Tinnitus
• Sereda M , Hoare DJ, Nicholson R, Smith S, Hall DA - Consensus on Hearing Aid Candidature and Fitting for Mild Hearing Loss, With and Without Tinnitus: Delphi Review
• Ward J, Vella C, Hoare DJ, Hall DA - Subtyping Somatic Tinnitus: A Cross-Sectional UK Cohort Study of Demographic, Clinical and Audiological Characteristics.
• Williams M, Hauptmann C, Patel N – Acoustic CR Neuromodulation Therapy for Subjective Tonal Tinnitus: A Review of Clinical Outcomes in an Independent Audiology Practice Setting
• Zobay O, Adjamian P - Source-Space Cross-Frequency Amplitude-Amplitude Coupling in Tinnitus

The Marie and Jack Shapiro Prize is given each year at the BTA Conference to the published paper presenting the results of UK based research, ‘most likely to result in improved treatment or public awareness of tinnitus.’ The prize is named after the late Jack Shapiro, the founder of the British Tinnitus Association, and his wife Marie, who both played an important role in the establishment of the charity and in raising awareness of tinnitus.

David Stockdale, Chief Executive of the British Tinnitus Association, said: “There are some excellent papers in the running for the Marie and Jack Shapiro Prize this year, covering a wide range of topics. We are very pleased that tinnitus is increasingly being seen as a worthwhile field of study, as can be seen by the increased numbers of papers under consideration as well as those presented at conferences. We are deeply appreciative of all those who undertake research into tinnitus with the aim of further developing knowledge and understanding about the causes of the condition.”

Ends

Editors Notes

The British Tinnitus Association (BTA) is an independent charity which supports thousands of people who experience tinnitus and advises medical professionals from across the world.

The BTA is the primary source of support and information for people with tinnitus in the UK, facilitating an improved quality of life.

They aim to encourage prevention through its educational programme and to seek effective treatment for tinnitus through a medical research programme.

The support the BTA offers to 335,000 people per year who are affected by tinnitus is reliant upon the generous donations of their supporters and fundraisers. They receive no government support and need to raise £500,000 each year to continue their UK wide support. Donations can be made via www.justgiving.com/BTA

Not an illness or disease, tinnitus is a term that describes the sensation of hearing a noise in the absence of an external sound. The noise can have virtually any quality. Ringing, whistling, and buzzing are common, but more complex sounds may also be reported. Troublesome tinnitus can be very distressing for the affected individual, and issues may arise with sleep, concentration and mood. However, in many cases, subtle changes in people’s environment can address these issues, and improve quality of life.

The experienced team at the BTA understands the impact that tinnitus can have on the lives of those who experience tinnitus and those who live with them, so seeks to provide the most appropriate and expert advice and information free of charge – via a confidential freephone helpline on 0800 018 0527 and online at www.tinnitus.org.uk. The BTA can also post printed and audio information and advice.

Visit the BTA’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/BritishTinnitusAssociation and follow the BTA on Twitter at www.twitter.com/BritishTinnitus

Marie and Jack Shapiro Prize - Qualification Criteria

A paper presenting the results of UK based research, which includes tinnitus in the title. Single case studies and general literature reviews will not be considered eligible. Updates of systematic reviews, unless there’s a significant new finding/conclusion (as determined by the BTA) will be excluded.

Marie and Jack Shapiro Prize - Assessment Criteria

The published research paper by a UK based author most likely to result in improved understanding and/or treatment of tinnitus. The Marie and Jack Shapiro Prize is intended to encourage researchers and others to develop an interest in tinnitus and to recognise their efforts.

For more information

Nic Wray, Communications Manager

nic@tinnitus.org.uk

01449 771384

Skype: nicwray20

Emily Broomhead, Projects Manager

emily@tinnitus.org.uk

0114 250 9933

British Tinnitus Association

Ground Floor, Unit 5 Acorn Business Park

Woodseats Close

Sheffield

S8 0TB