Georgia Birtman Grant

 Grant application (pdf)

The American Hearing Research Foundation (AHRF), together with the Northwestern Memorial Foundation (NMF) give the Georgia Birtman Grant, named in honor of long-time supporter of the AHRF Georgia Birtman. Birtman, a school teacher with a hearing impairment, left the AHRF $2.1 million in 1991. The one-year $75,000 grant ($25,000 each from the Birtman Fund, the AHRF and Northwestern Memorial Foundation) supports the advancement of research and education in otology and neurotology.

The grant is awarded to an exceptional researcher in audiology, otology or neurotology who will work in a lab at Northwestern University. The research topic involves some aspect of the diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of hearing and balance disorders related to the inner ear. The research has the potential to generate clinical care innovations, facilitate translational clinical studies, and develop creative educational programs.

Research proposals are reviewed by the AHRF and NMF.

Previous Birtman Grant Recipients

2007 - Timothy C. Hain, M.D., Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois
"Vestibular Evoked Myogenic Potentials (VEMP)"

2007 - Donna S. Whitlon, Ph.D., Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois
"Role of Intracellular Signal Transduction Mechanisms on the Regeneration of Spiral Ganglion Neuronal Morphology In Vitro"

2006 - Claus-Peter Richter, M.D., Ph.D. Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois
"Electrical Stimulation of Spiral Ganglion Cells"

2003/2004 - Alastair Lynn-Macrae, M.D., Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois
"Signal Transduction Pathways and Gene Expression in Cholesteatoma"