The network is coordinated by Dr. Sonja Pyott at the University Medical Center Groningen. This collaborative effort brings together an international consortium of 13 academic and 9 non-academic partners, with a focus on pioneering new approaches to understand, diagnose, and manage vestibular disorders. Starting in February 2024, this four-year initiative aims to address the challenges imposed by vestibular disorders—a range of conditions that affect balance and spatial orientation—providing significant advancements in care for the millions affected by these disorders worldwide.
The PROVIDE DN aims to significantly enhance the understanding and treatment of vestibular disorders through a multi-disciplinary research approach with three integrated work packages. In the first work package, PROVIDE investigates the underlying genetic, molecular, and cellular causes of vestibular disorders by employing various research models and advanced diagnostic techniques. In the second work package, PROVIDE focuses on better capturing the variability and complexity of symptoms associated with vestibular disorders, both in daily life, with innovative mobile applications, and in the clinic, with comprehensive clinical test batteries. Finally, in the third work package, PROVIDE advances innovative wearable and implantable devices designed to restore vestibular function to bring them into home use. Ultimately, these efforts will expand the understanding of vestibular disorders and expand treatment options to restore vestibular function, offering new hope and tangible solutions for the millions of individuals affected by vestibular disorders.
Key to this initiative are ten doctoral candidates who will use state-of-the-art methodology to address key research challenges and develop new knowledge, tools, and approaches to advance care for individuals with vestibular disorders. The network will also conduct efficacy studies and cost-benefit analyses to assure the feasibility and adoption of innovations. Recruitment for the ten doctoral candidates is set to start in January 2024, with vacancies announced in Euraxess, on PROVIDE's website and social media platforms, as well as on the websites of the partnering institutions.
The landscape of treatment for vestibular disorders has seen minimal advancement in decades. The PROVIDE DN is poised to break this standstill by introducing novel tools and methods to deliver effective and personalized care for those with vestibular loss. The PROVIDE DN is dedicated to fostering collaborative activities that aim to maximize the impact of its research in a green and sustainable way. Developments and breakthroughs from the PROVIDE DN will be regularly disseminated to healthcare professionals, industry leaders, and the public, ensuring transparent and informative communication of its progress and successes.
The PROVIDE DN assembles experts in vestibular research, patient care, and medical device development from esteemed institutions across Europe. The network is coordinated by Dr. Sonja Pyott at the University Medical Center Groningen (NL) and works in partnership with Maastricht University Medical Center+ (NL), Ludwig-Maximilians Universität München (DE), Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique Marseille and Universite D'AIX (FR), Universiteit Antwerp (BE), Universitat de Barcelona (SP), Universidad Pompeu Fabra (SP), Med-EL and University of Innsbruck (AT), and Elitac BalanceBelt (NL), ECS International BV (NL), NeuroConn GmbH (DE), Vestibular Disorders Association (VeDA, USA), Bárány Society (SE) and DizzyGuide A/S (DK).
This project is funded by the European Union under Grant Agreement No. 10112013.
