The Global Center for Hearing & Speech Research (GCHSR) was established in 2011. The GCHSR formally links USF Department of Communication Sciences & Disorders and Chemical & Biomedical Engineering with the goal of applying multi-disciplinary techniques to solve technological and biomedical problems faced by persons with hearing loss, speech production, and speech perception deficits. While unique in the public university setting, this formal tie between biomedical engineering in USF's College of Engineering and the communicative sciences & disorders in USF's College of Behavioral and Community Sciences supports the mission of USF and the constituent Departments.

History

In 1989, a research team, led by D. Robert Frisina, former Vice President of Rochester Institute of Technology and founder of the National Technical Institute for the Deaf (NTID), formed the International Center for Hearing & Speech Research - a joint program of Rochester Institute of Technology and the University of Rochester. Their mission was to carry out basic and clinical research aimed at new knowledge and novel technologies for preventing or treating various forms of hearing loss, speech deficits and deafness. Guided by this mission, the team became one of the world's leading groups focused on age-related hearing loss (presbycusis) and co-morbid medical disorders. Over the years, they expanded their research scope and breadth. In the Fall of 2010, the core of this group moved to the University of South Florida and formed the Global Center for Hearing & Speech Research with the generous support and encouragement of the USF administration and faculty.

Goals

Major discoveries impacting the characterization, diagnosis, prevention, and therapeutics of various communicative disorders likely will occur in the next few decades. While it is possible that such discoveries will occur within the GCHSR community, it is the goal of the GCHSR to be in a position to understand, facilitate, and be prepared to implement these discoveries regardless of their origin. This requires expertise and active involvement in basic, applied and clinical auditory and speech science as well as strong connections between neuroscience (including animal models)and human behavioral and physiological research.These activites require interdisciplinary and industry collaborations across areas such as auditory perception, speech science, physiology, molecular biology, anatomy, genetics, pharmacology, biomedical engineering, electrical engineering, epidemiology, biostatistics, and other related discplines. Combining independent and collaborative research programs and indusrty partnerships, the GCHSR and USF will be poised to lead in these efforts.

Support

Activities among the GCHSR faculty and participating laboratories are funded by USF, the National Institutes of Health (NIDCD and NIA), the National Science Foundation, Industry Sponsors, and generous support from Friends of the Center.