Bizstartup.ie - NewsTinnitus treatment wins ‘One to Watch’ award

The One to Watch award recognises the commercial potential of Government-supported projects, through Enterprise Ireland, that have the capacity to make a major social or economic impact once brought to the marketplace.

Minister  for  Science,  Technology  and Innovation, Conor Lenihan TD presented the award to  Dr  Ross O’Neill at the Enterprise Ireland Applied Research Forum in front of 250 academic researchers.

Tinnitus is a distressing condition commonly known as 'ringing in the ears', which affects up to one in seven people.

MuteButton to offer a cure for Tinnitus

There is currently no known cure for the condition but O’Neill and his collaborator Brendan Conlon, a surgical ear nose and throat consultant in St  James’s  Hospital  Dublin,  are  confident that the technology, which is called  ‘MuteButton’, will change that.

O’Neill said the clinical trials of the MuteButton technology would be happening soon.

The commercialisation office at NUI Maynoothand Enterprise Ireland are working with him to establish a spin-out company this  year. 

Minister Lenihan said the development has the potential to dramatically improve the lives of millions of people living with Tinnitus.

“With the support of Enterprise Ireland and the Commercialisation Office at NUI Maynooth this revolutionary treatment  for Tinnitus should soon be available to help all those who are currently told there is nothing that can be done to help them.

“This is an excellent example of the Irish technology transfer system in action.”

Photo: Dr Ross O’Neill, NUI Maynooth, (right) who was presented with the Enterprise Ireland One to Watch Award 2010, by Minister Conor Lenihan T.D. (centre) and Hugh Cooney, Chairman of Enterprise Ireland at the Applied Research Forum in Dublin. Pic by: Gary O' Neill