Red X iconGreen tick iconYellow tick icon

Members of the extended Department of Surgery and Critical Care are involved in clinical Otolaryngology research projects.


Key research themes

Cochlear implant outcome research

In conjunction with the Southern and Northern CI programmes, we collaborate in ongoing research.

Recent projects include:

  • CI and meningitis
  • Device use – metrics in younger children and its relationship to speech outcomes
  • The effects of universal neonatal screening on language outcomes after CI
  • CI in the elderly

Primary contact:

Professor Phil Bird
Department of Surgery and Critical Care (Christchurch)

Drug delivery to the inner ear

We are part of national multi-institutional collaboration of scientists, clinicians and engineers exploring innovative approaches to inner ear investigation and drug delivery via the window membrane.

Primary contacts:

Professor Phil Bird
Department of Surgery and Critical Care (Christchurch)

Dr Mike Bergin
Department of Surgery and Critical Care (Christchurch)

Monitoring hearing during surgery

This is a collaboration between our team and audiology scientists located in Perth, WA. We are attempting to measure extended high-pressure frequency during middle and inner ear procedures using a novel low-cost system.

Primary contacts:

Professor Phil Bird
Department of Surgery and Critical Care (Christchurch)

Dr Mike Bergin
Department of Surgery and Critical Care (Christchurch)

Rhinology research

Projects include complicated frontal sinusitis in children:

  • Sinonasal leiomyosarcoma
  • Vascular malformations in the head and neck region

Primary contact:

Dr Jurriën Embrechts
Otolaryngology Department, Health New Zealand, Canterbury (Te Whatu Ora, Waitaha)
Email jurrien.embrechts@cdhb.health.nz

Back to top