ABOUT THE SPEAKER & TOPIC

Associate Professor Yiwen Zheng graduated from Shanghai Medical College of Fudan University, formerly the independent Shanghai Medical University, in 1984 and worked in the Institute of Clinical Pharmacology at Anhui Medical University for 8 years before moving to New Zealand. She then completed a PhD in Neuropharmacology in the Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology at the University of Otago in 1998. She is a Co-Director of the Vestibular and Auditory Research group, a Principal Investigator of the Brain Research New Zealand CoRE and a member of the Eisdell Moore Centre for Research in Hearing and Balance Disorders.

Her research covers two distinct but interrelated areas: 1) understanding the underlying mechanisms of tinnitus and developing effective treatment for tinnitus and 2) understanding the contribution of vestibular information to higher cognitive function.  Her team leads the way in the international tinnitus research by identifying biomarkers of tinnitus using metabolomics and developing effective tinnitus treatment from the rich source of Traditional Chinese Medicine.   Her research in the vestibular area systematically evaluated a wide range of cognitive and emotional impairments and revealed the long-term neurochemical, electrophysiological and morphological changes in the medial temporal lobe following vestibular damage in animals. These findings remain the foundation of internationally increasing interest in the vestibular contribution to cognition.

From ringing ears to ringing brains:

Tinnitus, also known as the ringing in the ears, is a debilitating condition affecting the quality of life for many individuals. Tinnitus is also a risk factor in many occupational environments where effective auditory function is needed. With the increasing prevalence of tinnitus due to an increase in the elderly population as well as risky music-listening behaviours in the younger generation, future increases in tinnitus-related unemployment and tinnitus-related accidents in the workplace are likely. This could have a significant negative economic burden on both the New Zealand and Chinese healthcare systems. Unfortunately, no effective treatment for tinnitus is currently available. This is mainly due to the lack of understanding of where and how this phantom sensory perception is generated and perceived. This talk will explore the involvement of different brain structures in tinnitus and the potential to identify biomarkers for tinnitus in order to develop personalized treatment.

EVENT DETAILS

This event will be held in the Inkbox Theatre at Oamaru Opera House.

The doors for registration and seating will open at 6.00 pm. There will be a mix and mingle period after the event with the speaker where refreshments and food will be served.