Doctors and scientists have known of the existence
of otitis media for decades, but it was not until the
1970's that they began to search for its causes in earnest.
Through their research, they identified three types
of bacteria (Streptococcus pneumoniae, Hemophilus influenzae,
and Moraxella catarrhalis) as the source of most middle
ear infections. Recent research has focused on the role
that viruses, biofilms, and genetics play in the development
and incidence of otitis media and on the development
of a vaccine for the disease. Researchers have also
worked to understand how the condition affects hearing,
language development, and learning in children.
Since giving its first grant for otitis media research
in 1971, DRF has been a consistent supporter of this
type of research. Early projects focused on the bacterial
roots of the condition, while more recent research has
targeted the effects of ear infections as well as potential
vaccines. A number of DRF's otitis media grantees subsequently
received funding from the National Institutes of Health
and have made important contributions to the field.
DRF will continue to support research into otitis media,
in hopes that scientists will discover better treatments
for the condition.
| Year |
Research |
 |
|
| 1971 |
DRF funds two studies by Dr. Kenneth
H. Brookler and Dr. Collin Karmody on the causes
of otitis media |
|
|
| 1971-1973 |
DRF grant to Dr. Philip M. Sprinkle
to investigate the Microbiology of Recurrent Serious
Otitis Media. |
 |
|
| |
Dr. William Saunders also receives a grant for
a electron microscopic study of ear infections. |
|
|
| 1973 |
DRF grant to Dr. Charles D. Bluestone to study
the pathogenesis of middle ear effusions. |
|
|
| 1974 |
DRF supports Dr. Sprinkle's research into the
etiopathogenesis of otitis media |
|
|
| 1977-1979 |
Dr. Daniel M. Lewis receives DRF funding for a
study of experimental otitis media. |
|
|
| 1978-1980 |
Dr. Robert M. Bumstead receives a DRF grant to
study bone resorption in chronic ear disease. |
|
|
| 1981-1983 |
DRF supports Thomas DeMaria, PhD and his study
Haemophilus Influenza Otitis Media: An Animal Model |
|
|
| |
DRF gives a grant to Dr. Bruce J. Gantz for his
study of bone resorption in chronic otitis media.
He later receives NIH funding for otitis media research. |
|
|
| 1983-1985 |
DRF grant to Dr. Robert S. Fulghum and his study
of the role of bacteria in the development of otitis
media. |
|
|
| 1984-1986 |
Another DRF grant to Dr. DeMaria for a study of
The Role of Endotoxin in Adhesive Otitis Media |
|
|
| 1985 |
Dr. Joe E. Penny receives a DRF grant to study
otitis media in the rat cochlea, and Dr. Frederick
Henderson receives funding to study otitis media
and its relationship to speech problems. |
|
|
| 1986-1987 |
DRF funds Dr. Fulghum's study of bacteria as a
pathogenic factor in otitis media |
|
|
| |
DRF grant to Dr. Gerald Leonard for his research
into secretory otitis media. |
|
|
| 1987 |
Drs. James R. Carlson, Lauren O. Bakaletz, Thomas
F. DeMaria, and Roland D. Eavey all receive DRF
funding to study otitis media. |
|
|
| 1988 |
DRF grant to Dr. Linda J. Dindzans for a study
of antibodies and otitis media. |
|
|
| |
DRF funds Dr. Timothy T. K. Jung's research into
the pathogenesis of otitis media. |
|
|
| 1988-1989 |
Joanne Roberts, Ph.D. receives a DRF grant to
study the effect of otitis media on speech and language
development. She goes on to receive substantial
NIH funding. |
|
|
| 1991 |
Dr. Mary C. Hart studies a possible link between
otitis media and childhood imbalance. |
|
|
| |
Another DRF grant to Dr. Jung to study otitis
media. |
|
|
| |
DRF grant to Kathleen A. Daly, Ph.D. and her study
of the epidemiology of early otitis media. She has
received long-term NIH funding. |
|
|
| |
Dr. David H. Darrow receives a grant for his study
of the effects of bacterial endotoxin on the cochlea. |
|
|
| 1992 |
DRF grant to Dr. Timothy Sorg for his search for
an otitis media vaccine. |
|
|
| 1993-94 |
Dr. Christopher Post receives DRF grants to study
the role of respiratory viruses in otitis media.
DRF's funding leads to two NIH grants. |
|
|
| 1994 |
DRF funds Dr. Joan Besing's study of the effects
of otitis media on children. |
|
|
| |
Dr. Janak A. Patel receives a grant to study viral
infections of the middle ear. |
|
|
| 1996 |
Dr. Howard Faden receives a DRF grant to study
possible protective antibodies in human milk. He
has also received NIH funding. |
|
|
| |
DRF funds Dr. Harold C. Pillsbury's study of the
role of cytokines in middle ear effusions. |
|
|
| 1998 |
DRF grant to Dr. Zhi Yuan to study antibiotics
and otitis media. |
|
|
| 2000-2002 |
DRF funds Dr. Graham P. Krasan and his study of
the nitric oxide response to haemophilus influenzae
infections. |
|
|
| 2001-2002 |
Dr. Melinda Pettigrew receives a grant to study
virulence factors associated with otitis media |
|
|
| 2003-2004 |
Dr. Paul Webster receives a grant to study specific
bacteria as a cause of otitis media. |
