OMOZ Conference

09/11/2024

Indigenous man and immunology researcher Dr Guy Cameron has received a grant for his work developing a model of human middle ear epithelium as a platform for transforming children’s ear disease research.

31/08/2024

30/08/2024

A heartfelt thank you to our exhibitors, sponsors, and everyone who attended and contributed to making this event a success. We concluded with an open yarn, reflecting on the experiences and insights we’ve shared over the past four days.

A special acknowledgement goes to Prof Kelvin Kong AM for his unwavering dedication and remarkable contributions to this space. Your leadership and passion continue to inspire us all. Thank you, everyone, for being part of this journey!

30/08/2024

Highlights from the screening session:

• Bruce Allen (Allen Fisher): Developed a hearing screening system for infants in rural and remote areas using Visually Reinforced Orientation Audiometry (VROA) and other techniques, ensuring earlier detection of hearing loss through a comprehensive, bias-minimised approach.
• Elke Burgin & Sarah Steele (Justice Health and Forensic Mental Health Network): Launched an Ear Screening Project in NSW Juvenile and Correctional Facilities, implementing advanced guidelines and an electronic form (eform) for efficient ear health management, promoting long-term patient well-being.
• Mr Jason Gavrilis (National Acoustic Laboratories, Hearing Australia): Presented the “Listen to Learn” program, which empowers educators to recognise and act on hearing loss in children aged 3-8, highlighting poorer ear health in younger children and those in remote areas.
• Dr Karen Sparrow (Flinders University): Discussed ongoing assessments of middle ear disease in Aboriginal children in remote South Australia, showing that while there has been some improvement, middle ear disease remains prevalent in the Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara (APY) Lands.
• Melanie Dowling & Eura Lim (John Hunter Children’s Hospital): Reviewed the NSW Statewide Infant Screening - Hearing (SWISH) Program, emphasising its effectiveness in early detection of conductive hearing loss in Aboriginal infants and advocating for enhanced follow-up care through collaboration with Indigenous colleagues.

30/08/2024

Highlights from the second audiology session:

• Samantha Harkus (National Acoustic Laboratories): Key findings from the 5000 PLUMs study showed that the Parent-evaluated Listening and Understanding Measure (PLUM) effectively identifies otitis media-related long-term hearing difficulties in young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children.
• Eura Lim (NSW Health): Discussed the success of a Store-and-Forward Model of Ear Care for Aboriginal children in the Hunter New England area, improving access to early interventions and reducing surgical waitlists through community-based assessments and telehealth.
• Professor Michael Breakspear (University of Newcastle): Explored the impact of cochlear implants on cognitive decline in older Australians, sharing insights from a study using advanced neuroimaging to assess brain health post-surgery.
• Professor Mridula Sharma (Flinders University): Presented research showing that poor binaural listening is a significant predictor of phonological awareness in Indigenous children from remote NT regions, emphasizing the need for targeted interventions.
• Maree McTaggart (NextSense): Highlighted “Vicki’s Story,” a case study of a proud Worimi woman’s journey with cochlear implants, detailing her successful outcomes and contributions to Aboriginal communities post-surgery.

30/08/2024

Professor Jay Horvat, University of Newcastle and Hunter Medical Research Institute.
“Understanding Respiratory Disease Using a Complementary Combination of Experimental & Clinical Data”. This talk focused on the role of Iron in Respiratory Disease and lessons learned which may apply to otitis media.

1. Iron Homeostasis in Health and Disease:
• Iron is essential for normal physiological function, but both iron deficiency and iron overload can lead to disease states.
• Iron imbalance in respiratory tissues, such as the lungs and airways, is linked to the pathogenesis of chronic respiratory conditions like asthma and infections.
2. Iron and Asthma Pathogenesis:
• Alterations in local iron metabolism, particularly in the airways, contribute to the severity of asthma.
• Increased intracellular iron loading due to elevated transferrin receptor 1 (TFR1) expression exacerbates asthma symptoms and can worsen responses to infections like influenza A virus (IAV).
• Understanding these mechanisms opens new therapeutic avenues targeting iron metabolism to improve outcomes in asthma and related respiratory diseases.
3. Implications for Otitis Media:
• Lessons from asthma and iron metabolism could be applied to understanding and managing otitis media.
• Given the role of iron in immune function and infection susceptibility, similar mechanisms may be at play in the middle ear infections characteristic of otitis media.
• Investigating iron metabolism in the context of otitis media could lead to novel treatments, particularly for chronic or recurrent cases, where standard treatments are ineffective.

Conclusion:
Prof. Horvat’s research highlights the critical role of iron homeostasis in respiratory health and disease, particularly in asthma. By integrating experimental and clinical data, this research paves the way for novel therapeutic strategies that could be extended to other conditions, such as otitis media.

30/08/2024

Caitlyn Granland, from the Wesfarmers Centre of Vaccines and Infectious Diseases at the Telethon Kids Institute, presented on the preclinical safety testing (biodistribution) of a novel otitis media vaccine, titled “Spritz-OM.” The vaccine utilizes the respiratory commensal bacteria Haemophilus haemolyticus to prevent otitis media (OM). This study aimed to ensure that intranasal administration of H. haemolyticus does not lead to its presence in the blood or brain, which would be a critical safety concern. In this preclinical trial, H. haemolyticus was administered intranasally to mice, and various tissues were collected and analyzed at multiple time points. The bacteria were detected in the nasal washes and lungs but were not found in the middle ear or brain, indicating that the vaccine does not spread beyond the intended areas. While detection in the blood requires further testing due to PCR inhibition, the absence of clinical symptoms suggests it is unlikely that H. haemolyticus enters the bloodstream. These findings confirm the safety of H. haemolyticus in preventing OM and provide crucial data to support the progression of Spritz-OM to clinical trials.

30/08/2024

Sharon Clark from the Wesfarmers Centre of Vaccines and Infectious Diseases at the Telethon Kids Institute presented on the role of memory B-cells in reduced antibody responses in otitis-prone children. The study investigated whether the lower levels of antibodies observed in Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal otitis-prone children against Nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae (NTHi) antigens were linked to deficiencies in antigen-specific memory B-cells. The research involved analysing peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from 45 children—15 Aboriginal otitis-prone, 15 non-Aboriginal otitis-prone, and 15 non-otitis-prone. The study found that both Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal otitis-prone children had significantly lower levels of PD-specific memory B-cells compared to non-otitis-prone children, with trends also suggesting lower levels of memory B-cells for other NTHi antigens (rsPilA and ChimV4). Despite similar overall proportions of circulating B-cells across groups, otitis-prone children exhibited higher proportions of circulating T follicular helper cells (cTfh), which are crucial for B-cell activation. These findings highlight the need for further investigation into the mechanisms driving memory B-cell production in response to NTHi antigens, which is essential for developing effective vaccines against chronic and recurrent otitis media.

30/08/2024

Speaker Spotlight: A/Prof Lea-Ann Kirkham & Dr Ruth Thornton

At OMOZ 2024, A/Prof Lea-Ann Kirkham and Dr Ruth Thornton from the Telethon Kids Institute and the University of Western Australia shared their pioneering research on new therapies for Otitis Media (OM), a condition that significantly impacts children’s ear health.

A/Prof Kirkham is Co-Head of the Bacterial Respiratory Infectious Disease Group and Microbiology Lead at the Wesfarmers Centre of Vaccines & Infectious Diseases. Her work has been instrumental in developing vaccines and interventions that have reduced ear infection rates, especially among Indigenous children. Dr Thornton, Co-Head of the same group, focuses on bacterial biofilms in chronic and recurrent OM, leading to innovative treatment strategies.

Their presentation covered several key areas:

1. OMinWA Study: This research highlights that the bacterial causes of OM in Western Australian children, primarily non-typeable Haemophilus influenzae (NTHi), remain consistent over 15 years. This study emphasizes the importance of continued microbiological surveillance to assess vaccine impacts and identify prevention targets.
2. Spritz-OM Vaccine: Using preclinical mouse models, the team tested Spritz-OM, a nasal vaccine designed to prevent NTHi OM. The vaccine demonstrated promising results in reducing bacterial carriage and preventing OM, indicating potential for future therapies.
3. ATOMIC EARS Trial: This trial explores Dornase alfa, an anti-biofilm therapy, to prevent repeat ventilation tube insertions (VTI) in children. Preliminary findings suggest it is safe, well-tolerated, and may improve hearing outcomes, aiming to reduce the need for repeat surgeries.
4. Blitz-OM Therapy: Blitz-OM, a novel anti-biofilm agent that becomes a gel in the ear canal, has shown significant preclinical success and offers great potential for treating chronic OM.

Their work represents a significant advancement in OM prevention and treatment, particularly for high-risk populations, paving the way for more effective and sustainable healthcare solutions.

30/08/2024

The Lightning Talks session at showcased innovative approaches to advancing ear and hearing healthcare, particularly in Indigenous communities.

Cultural Awareness in Health Science Education
Dr. Grace Nixon and Anne-Marie Banfield presented the Yarning Circle Initiative, designed to enhance cultural awareness among health science students. This program has expanded across disciplines, significantly impacting students’ commitment to culturally safe healthcare practices.

Telehealth for ENT Services
Greta Bernabei highlighted the Ear Portal project, which drastically reduced wait times for otitis media treatment through telehealth, resulting in improved outcomes for children in urban settings.

Supporting Remote Aboriginal Communities
Lucy Mitchell and Emma Ireland discussed strategies to improve surgery attendance in remote East Pilbara, including fast-tracking surgeries and providing direct transportation for patients.

Best-Practice Ear and Hearing Care
Anita Morrow shared her research on aligning ear care practices with national guidelines, aiming to close the gap in healthcare outcomes for Indigenous children.

Co-Design in Healthcare Initiatives
Amelia McCullough evaluated the co-design processes in the Hearing for Learning Initiative, emphasizing the importance of First Nations-led governance and the challenges of implementation.

New Ear Health Check Recommendations
Samantha Harkus presented new guidelines for regular ear health checks in young Aboriginal children, focusing on early detection in high-risk groups.

Health Promotion for Otitis Media Prevention
Melinda Edmunds and Valerie Swift outlined a multi-strategy health promotion approach to prevent otitis media, emphasizing culturally appropriate practices.

Improving Ear Health Access in South Australia
A/Prof Jacqueline Stephens discussed the Pathways Project, which aims to enhance ear health services for Aboriginal children in South Australia through community-led strategies.

These talks highlighted the critical role of culturally informed, community-driven initiatives in improving ear and hearing health outcomes.

30/08/2024

Dr Michelle Pokorny from Te Whatu Ora, Counties Manukau, Auckland, NZ, presented on the long-term functional health outcomes for children following routine grommet insertion and the preferences of whānau (families) for post-grommet care. The study involved children from South Auckland who were assessed two years after grommet insertion. The findings revealed that over half of the children had hearing loss in one or both ears, with Māori children being significantly more likely to have bilateral hearing loss compared to non-Māori children. The study also included interviews with families, highlighting key themes: whānau were highly engaged with their child’s development and valued follow-up care, but faced challenges in accessing ear healthcare. The research underscores the need for improved follow-up care models that address the specific concerns and inequities experienced by Māori children and their families.

30/08/2024

A/Prof Michelle Kennedy, a proud Wiradjuri woman and a leading voice in Aboriginal health, delivered a powerful presentation on “Equity in Ear Disease and Ethics” from an Aboriginal perspective. Drawing on her personal and professional experiences, A/Prof Kennedy highlighted the pervasive racism faced by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, including her own family, in accessing ENT care.

She underscored the historical atrocities committed in research on Indigenous populations, stressing the importance of ethical practices and respect for Indigenous sovereignty in health research. A/Prof Kennedy emphasised the need for a human rights-based approach to healthcare, calling for the adherence to international human rights instruments to protect the rights of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples with hearing impairments.

Her presentation served as a poignant reminder of the ongoing challenges in achieving equity in ear health and the critical role of culturally safe and community-driven healthcare solutions in overcoming these barriers.