Our funded projects

Thanks to the microtia community, their friends and families generosity and several other organisations, Microtia UK is able to fund projects which will benefit those with microtia.

In 2019, we accepted the following projects:

1) Many thanks to the VTCT Foundation who awarded funding for research in conjunction with the Centre of Appearance Research. This research will look at exploring parents’ experiences of having a child with microtia, including the support needs of both parents and young people, the availability and experiences of support, and decision making about surgery. The research results will be made available and shared on our website and with medical professionals.

2) University College London, Patrizia Ferretti and Neil Bulstrode for research into ear reconstruction using cartilage bioengineered from autologous cells.

3) Swansea University, Thomas Jovic to support ongoing research efforts in cartilage tissue engineering for ear reconstruction.

4) Aston University, Saira Hussain and GOSH, Robert Nash, Neil Bulstrode and Lindsey Edwards are aiming to understand the patient experiences of those with microtia and improving their clinical decision-making processes. The two institutions will be working in parallel to help enhance the knowledge currently available on this population to help improve outcomes for those with microtia.

5) GOSH, Robert Nash, Neil Bulstrode and Lindsey Edwards for a study to compare academic attainments in literacy and numeracy with those predicted on the basis of intellectual ability, in children with unilateral microtia.

6) Colin Link for Stage 1 – supporting the creation of initial samples of silicone implants and travel.

7) Evelina London, Dr Orla Fehily and Melinda Edwards are creating an audio-visual resource for young people who have microtia and atresia. Lead by the ‘experts by experience’, the film will provide an invaluable resource for young people, their friends and family, and professionals involved in their welfare, from health-care to education.

8) We have been funded by the National Lottery Fund for the charity to write, design and print a new specialist book to support those born with microtia. The book will be aimed at Primary School aged children and it will give the children something positive to share and talk about. We are hoping the book will be complete in May 2020.

In January 2018 we funded the following projects:

1) Aston University, Dr Amanda Hall for further research into Single Sided Deafness – click here to read the summary report.

2) Centre for Appearance Research, University of England, Bristol for further research of psychological impact of microtia – click here to read the summary report.

3) Great Ormond Street Hospital for cell incubator to try to improve ear and facial reconstruction method for the future.

4) Scottish National Ear Reconstruction Services and the University of Edinburgh for scaffold identification for ear reconstruction.

All results to be shared with the microtia community and medical professionals linked to microtia.