Building on our affiliations with CBM, the House Ear Institute, and Stanford University, GEO research explores how to get affordable hearing aids to those in need, affordable cochlear implants to the congenitally deaf, and assisting with the investigations into the prevalence of ear disease in Ecuador through a project sponsored by the WHO and the School of Public Health at the Universitu of San Francisco in Quito, Ecuador.
The clinical and social concerns that arise out of treating ear disease encourage us to delve into a widening range of issues and disciplines, from macroeconomics to epidemiology to anthropology. We conduct clinical research exploring side-effect management, optimal clinical regimens and improved diagnostics. We undertake operational research projects designed to improve program performance, such as examining the use of local anesthesia for middle ear surgery and the effects on safety and oucomes. Presently we are involved in a level 3 drug study of a new drug used for the treatment of otitis externa.
First and foremost, however, GEO research examines the GEO model of care in order to improve our programs and distill evidence and examples that will help others learn from and build upon our experience.