News/Publications
Press releases
Biggest breakthroughs to curing tinnitus in decades 11/1/2007
Vets suffer more tinnitus 9/13/2007
American Tinnitus Association co-sponsors national music event - ATA at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame 11/3/05
For Immediate Release CONTACT
November 1, 2007 Jennifer DuPriest
(503) 248-9985
American Tinnitus Association Selects Caren Sharp to Direct Chicagoland Chapter
- Premier chapter launches full throttle effort in support of tinnitus cure -
CHICAGO, IL – Caren Sharp has been chosen to direct the Chicagoland chapter of the American Tinnitus Association (ATA). Sharp joins the organization with over 20 years experience in both non-profit and for-profit development operations. Formed in spring of 2007, the Chicagoland chapter is the first chapter of this national organization.
“We are closer to a cure with each donation in support of ATA’s research program,” said Sharp. Tinnitus, the perception of sound where no external source is present, is a growing condition in the U.S. and worldwide. Most commonly caused by noise exposure, tinnitus impacts 50 million Americans. In the U.S. 12 million suffer from chronic tinnitus and 2 million are completely debilitated. Over the past decade scientists have uncovered where tinnitus is occurring in the brain and now believe a cure is possible. John Johnson, president of the Chicagoland chapter noted, “I am extremely enthusiastic about working with Caren. Her energy and expertise in philanthropy is evident and I am confident that she will lead the way for ATA to accomplish its goal of curing tinnitus.”
Scientists have made great strides in understanding the causal mechanisms of tinnitus. ATA funded many of the seed grants that led the way to additional funding from other organizations and agencies such as the National Institutes of Health (NIH). “We are at a critical point in tinnitus research history,” said David Fagerlie, Chief Executive Officer for ATA. “With the isolation of tinnitus in the brain by using imaging technologies like fMRI (functional magnetic resonance imaging) and PETSCAN (positron emissions tomography) scientists believe tinnitus can be cured. ATA’s responsibility, to all tinnitus patients and to our scientists, is to meet the financial demands for medical research toward curing tinnitus,” said Fagerlie.
State of the Art Research
ATA is advised by a Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC) comprised of 24 researchers from various scientific disciplines. Among these are otolaryngologists, neurologists, audiologists and pharmacologists. SAC developed ATA’s Roadmap to a Cure in 2005. The Roadmap prioritizes areas of study and highlights opportunities for further investigation to find a cure for tinnitus. Last year, ATA awarded the highest amount it ever has in research grants.
“With the path tinnitus science has taken, we will continue to receive high caliber research proposals and want to continue to increase the amount we award in grants annually,” said ATA’s Fagerlie. “With Caren in the Chicago community, we will be able to increase support for our mission and expedite research toward a cure,” he concluded.
Prior to joining the ATA team, Sharp worked for Habitat for Humanity where she raised over $3 million during her tenure. She obtained her Bachelor of Arts from the University of South Florida and graduated magna cum laude in her class. "I'm thrilled to be part of a team helping envision and build the foundation for ATA's future - a network of chapters that will successfully serve members, energize community support and create resources to accomplish ATA’s mission of curing tinnitus," said Sharp.
About the American Tinnitus Association
Headquartered in Portland, Oregon, the American Tinnitus Association is the only organization in North America that enables individuals to help fund tinnitus research. Founded in 1971, it has contributed millions of dollars to medical research projects focused on curing tinnitus. The association also provides information on tinnitus to the public and advocates for effective public policies to support its mission of curing tinnitus.
For Immediate Release Contact: Jennifer DuPriest
September 13, 2007 (503) 248-9985 ext. 215
Biggest Breakthroughs to Curing Tinnitus in Decades
- Medical Imaging Technologies Bring Researchers Closer To a Cure -
PORTLAND, OR, September 13, 2007 – The American Tinnitus Association (ATA) is celebrating advances in scientific research that have allowed investigators to visualize or “see” where and when tinnitus is present in a patient. Tinnitus once referred to as an “invisible injury” can now be seen using medical imaging technologies like fMRI (functional magnetic resonance imaging), PET (positron emission tomography) and magnetoencephalography (MEG).
An estimated 12 million Americans suffer with chronic tinnitus, a debilitating condition often described as ringing, hissing or roaring in the ears. For those 12 million, the condition ruthlessly reduces their quality of life and compromises their cognitive abilities. Up to 2 million Americans, are so debilitated they often are unable to work, leave home or interact with family and friends.
“For the first time ever, scientists are able to see when tinnitus in present in a patient,” said David Fagerlie, CEO of the American Tinnitus Association. “This development has provided hope for tinnitus investigators and the tinnitus community that a cure is possible – If you asked tinnitus researchers ten years ago if a cure was possible, they’d try to avoid answering your question. Today, if you ask that same group of researchers every one would say it’s more possible than ever before.”
“During the past decade scientists have been able to pinpoint sites of abnormal brain activity that may be responsible for the phantom sound of tinnitus,” said, Richard Salvi, chair of ATA’s Scientific Advisory Committee, and Director of the Center for Hearing and Deafness at SUNY Buffalo. Salvi noted, “Older MRI machines only produced static images showing the anatomy of the brain.” Newer fMRI, MEG machines and PET scanners allow documentation of the changes in brain activity associated with the perception of tinnitus. Now that tinnitus is visible, the scientific community is better equipped to understand what regions of the brain are likely to give rise to these debilitating phantom sounds. “During the past decade, there have been tremendous advances in tinnitus research. We are now able to experiment with new forms of treatments, like transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), sound therapies, electrical stimulation of the inner ear (cochlear implants) and pharmacological approaches that the scientific community hopes will lead to cures for tinnitus,” added Salvi.
Scott Mitchell, chair of the Board of Directors of the ATA, explained, “Combine all public and private funding for tinnitus research and you have only $3 million to pay for critically needed research on this condition. That hardly allows you to have a viable global research effort!” All the money spent on tinnitus research per year is less than the cost of one M1 Abrams battle tank. “ATA’s mission is to help raise the money and develop the resources needed to put more researchers to work expediting a cure,” Mitchell added.
ATA Taking Action
To increase public and political awareness about the need to increase funding for tinnitus research, ATA recently created an Action Alliance as part of its advocacy program. The alliance gives supporters an opportunity to join in a grassroots effort with others affected by tinnitus across the country. The alliance will seek funding from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), and the Department of Defense (DoD). “The grassroots effort will assist in achieving ATA’s goal of increasing public funding for research at the federal level, while we are also working to increase private philanthropy funds,” Mitchell said.
Last year, the VA added 51,360 veterans to those already receiving disability payments for service-connected tinnitus, bringing the total to nearly 400,000. “If service-connected tinnitus continues on the upward trend we’ve seen over the past five years, we’ll be paying out over $1 billion just in compensating our veterans for tinnitus by 2010,” said ATA’s Fagerlie. “Think about how much closer we’d be to a cure if even one-quarter of that money were available for research.”
ATA is leading the way toward a cure to restore silence to the 50 million Americans who experience tinnitus to some degree. ATA’s advocacy campaign is one of both urgency and commitment. For information about how to join the fight to cure tinnitus or to become an ATA member visit ATA’s website (www.ata.org).
About the American Tinnitus Association
The American Tinnitus Association exists to cure tinnitus through the development of resources that advance tinnitus research. Founded in 1971, it has raised and allocated millions of dollars toward medical research projects focused on curing tinnitus. In addition, the Association advocates for public policies to support its mission of curing tinnitus. It is headquartered in Portland, Oregon.
