The first complete “cell atlas” of the human inner ear is being developed at The University of Melbourne and supported by the Passe & Williams Foundation.
Announcing its latest awardees on 12 February 2026, the foundation said it had granted more than $2.6 million in funds to be shared among five Australian hearing health research and clinical care projects, including the cell atlas.
The Melbourne-based Passe & Williams Foundation improves the health and lives of people with ear, nose and throat (ENT) disorders by funding life-changing medical research, surgery and care.
The latest grants bring the amount of money it has donated in its 40 years to more than $95 million, resulting in world leading medical advances.
The new projects funded range from research on childhood ear infections and ear disorders to balance disorders, cochlear implants, and Menière’s disease.
Inner ear cell atlas
Leading expert in auditory neuroscience, Associate Professor Bryony Nayagam from The University of Melbourne, and her international multidisciplinary team are creating the world’s first complete “cellular atlas” of the human inner ear.
The team will combine advanced MRI and cutting-edge bioinformatics in its aim to identify new targets for regenerative therapies to treat previously irreversible hearing and balance loss.
Supported by $1.3 million over five years through a Garnett Passe and Rodney Williams Senior Fellowship, the foundation said the pioneering work was also expected to accelerate global clinical trials for cell- and gene-based treatments targeting hearing loss.
Transforming cochlear implant outcomes
At The University of Sydney, ENT clinician-researcher Dr Nathan Creber and Dr Jeremy Pinyon are leading a world-first study of the “microenvironment” inside the living human cochlea.
Their pioneering liquid biopsy techniques aim to track how the inner ear responds to cochlear implant surgery, with the goal of improving implant performance and preserving residual hearing.
In a University of Melbourne project, ENT surgeon Professor Stephen O’Leary from the Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital, and auditory neuroscientist Dr Christofer Bester are identifying which patients may benefit most from emerging gene therapies for hearing loss.
They are establishing biomarkers to guide cochlear implant surgery and future regenerative therapies.
“Their work will help match the right patients to next-generation treatments as gene-based interventions move closer to clinical reality,” the Passe & Williams Foundation said.
New treatments and research for childhood ear disease
At The University of Queensland, Associate Professor Bernard Whitfield and Associate Professor Timothy Wells are developing novel antibody-based treatments for recurrent otitis media.
Their research aims to reduce the need for repeated surgeries, lower healthcare costs and improve hearing and educational outcomes for thousands of Australian children.
Dr Claire Frauenfelder is leading a collaborative research initiative at the Queensland Children’s Hospital, strengthening the bridge between clinical practice and translational research in paediatric ENT care.
The initiative will accelerate innovation in diagnosing and treating ear disorders in children, ensuring research discoveries rapidly translate into improved clinical outcomes.
With the University of Queensland, she is developing a translational paediatric OHNS (otolaryngology, head and neck surgery) research program at the hospital, building a sustainable, collaborative hub to improve clinical care for children.
Unlocking genetics of Menière’s disease
University of Sydney PhD candidate and emerging resesarcher, Mr Pablo Cruz-Granados, is using artificial intelligence and DNA analysis to uncover the genetic causes of menière’s Disease.
He is exploring the genetic and immune mechanisms behind autoinflammatory Menière’s disease, using advanced DNA analysis and artificial intelligence to uncover potential new treatments.
Mrs Barbara Williams established the foundation in 1986 to honour the memory of her two husbands, Garnett Passe and Rodney Williams. It became operational after her death in 1991, with a purpose to advance the ENT medical specialty in Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand.
Led by a board and management team comprising sector leaders and experts, its mission is to keep Australian and Aotearoa New Zealand Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery (OHNS) at the forefront of world clinical and scientific practice, by supporting excellence in the specialty.
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