The remit of the ENT Specialty Group is to support a national portfolio of structured research studies in the field of ENT, and its allied disciplines, by supporting the United Kingdom portfolio of research into the diagnosis, treatment, management and therapy of ENT disorders. The Group’s remit extends to the normal development, function and diseases of the ear, nose and throat and related aspects of hearing, balance, smell and speech.
The Group has an increasing number of ENT Speciality Leads; currently in 14 of the 25 Comprehensive Local Research Networks (CLRNs) in England and one lead in Scotland.
One of the main purposes of the Specialty Group is to ensure that clinical research studies in ENT deliver to target by developing and supporting a research infrastructure within the specialty which promotes engagement of the research communities and provides the local support necessary to undertake high quality research studies within the NHS. We also will assist in the growth of multi-centre studies; coordinate similar research areas and offer help if studies are falling behind.
The group make-up is diverse and the professionals involved are otorhinolaryngologists, audiovestibular physicians, hearing scientists, audiologists, speech therapists, hearing therapists, teachers of the deaf, and balance specialists, with potential interaction with neurologists, ophthalmologists, maxilla-facial and plastic surgeons, respiratory physicians and immunologists amongst others.
The Group’s portfolio is small but growing. It reflects the diversity of the disciplines involved in ENT and includes studies involving: Auditory processing disorders, Plasticity of the auditory system, Multisensory aspects, Head and neck oncology, Tinnitus, Genetics of otitis media, Cochlear non-linearity, Neonatal screening for hearing loss, Cochlear implantation evaluations and Speech disorders.
The profession needs to be able to deliver high quality clinical research studies in both primary and secondary care in the UK, and the ENT Specialty Group has a key part to play in facilitating this goal.
Currently no local lead has been identified in London (S) CLRN.
Further Information
See the National ENT Specialty Group web page for further information.
