Conference Grant (R-13) for Emerging Issues in Cochlear Implantation Symposium to be held 10/15/2015-10/17/2015 focusing on topics that may expand patient indications and improve outcomes

 描述(由申请者提供)：这项拨款申请是为第二次由非营利性美国人工耳蜗术联盟(ACIA)组织的“人工耳蜗术中新出现的问题”会议。第一次新兴问题研讨会于2013年10月24-26日举行，并得到了NIH R13会议补助金的支持。为期21天半的会议将把研究人员、临床医生、教育工作者和人工耳蜗植入团队的其他人员以及政府官员和初级保健医生聚集在一起，探讨可能影响人工耳蜗植入适应症和结果的六个主题。在头两天的上午全体会议上，来自人工耳蜗植入护理连续领域的特邀专家小组将探讨六个问题。这次会议的一个目的是探索通过扩大适应症、更好地了解成本效益、听力恢复的扫盲益处、更好地了解人工耳蜗术后听觉通路功能的机制以及手术后护理的其他方面(包括人工耳蜗术与其他技术的连通性)，接触到服务不足的人群--那些可以从人工耳蜗术中受益的聋儿和成年人--的研究和临床意义。这些小组提供了一种手段，鼓励研究和临床社区之间就哪些研究可以改善临床护理进行双向沟通。周六上午，一个跨学科小组举行了一场关于听力恢复和神经科学的圆桌会议，探讨听力如何影响思维以及大脑如何感知声音。会议参与者可以在每天下午和周六上午提交摘要，就相关问题提交论文或海报。商业参展商将被邀请展示产品和服务；我们得到了三大植入物公司和相关医疗器械公司的承诺，他们将参加。根据2013年新兴问题专题讨论会的结果和对与会者的调查，我们相信，本组织将提供高质量的会议，对有限数量的关键新兴议题进行更广泛的探索。研讨会与NIDCD 2012-2016战略计划的优先领域4一致，该计划强调通过加快将研究发现转化为实践来改善人类交流的成果；增加获得医疗保健的机会；以及提高医疗保健的提供、质量和有效性。我们相信，这样的讨论可以通过接触到人工耳蜗临床医生和初级保健医生来改善护理和获取机会，他们也是电子出版物的目标受众。正在为以下四项活动申请资金：(1)设计和出版一个会议后电子版 会议记录文件将经过同行评审，并可从ACIA网站免费开放获取；(2)为失聪人士提供字幕(CART)和其他通信途径；(3)为学生和青年研究人员提供会议奖学金；(4)为会议发言和字幕提供视听租赁和相关支助服务。

 DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): This grant request is for a second "Emerging Issues in Cochlear Implantation" conference to be organized again by the non-profit American Cochlear Implant Alliance (ACIA). The first Emerging Issues Symposium was held October 24-26, 2013 and was supported by a NIH R13 Conference Grant. The 21/2 day meeting will bring together researchers, clinicians, educators and others on cochlear implant teams as well governmental officials and primary care physicians to explore six topics that may impact on cochlear implant indications and outcomes. Six issues will be explored by panels of invited experts from across the cochlear implant care continuum during morning plenaries on the first two days. An aim of the conference is to explore the research and clinical implications of reaching underserved populations-those deaf children and adults who could benefit from cochlear implantation through expanded indications, greater understanding of cost effectiveness, literacy benefits of hearing restoration, mechanisms of providing greater understanding of auditory pathway function of cochlear implantation, and other aspects of after surgical care including cochlear implant connectivity with other technologies. The panels provide a means to encourage two-way communication between the research and clinical communities about what research could improve clinical care. A Saturday morning roundtable on hearing restoration and neuroscience by an interdisciplinary group to explore how hearing affects thought and how the brain perceives sound. Meeting participants may submit abstracts to present papers or posters on related issues during the afternoon each day and on Saturday morning. Commercial exhibitors will be invited to display products and services; we have commitments from the three major implant companies and related medical devices that they will participate. Based on the outcome of the 2013 Emerging Issues Symposium and a survey conducted of participants, we believe this organization will provide high quality sessions with more extensive exploration of a limited number of key emerging topics. The Symposium is consistent with the NIDCD 2012-2016 Strategic Plan, Priority Area 4, which emphasizes improving outcomes for human communication by accelerating the translation of research discoveries into practice; increasing access to healthcare; and enhancing the delivery, quality, and effectiveness of care. We believe such discussions may improve care and access by reaching cochlear implant clinicians as well as primary care physicians, who are also a target audience for the electronic publication. Funds are being requested for four activities: (1) design and publication of a post conference electronic proceedings document that will be peer reviewed and posted with free open access from the ACIA website; (2) captioning (CART) and other communication access for people with hearing loss; (3) conference scholarships for students and young investigators; and (4) audio visual rental and related support services for the conference presentations and captioning.