Innovations in Doctoral Training and Research on Tinnitus: The European School on Interdisciplinary Tinnitus Research (ESIT) Perspective

Abstract

Tinnitus is a common medical condition which interfaces many different disciplines, yet it is not a priority for any individual discipline. A change in its scientific understanding and clinical management requires a shift toward multidisciplinary cooperation, not only in research but also in training. The European School for Interdisciplinary Tinnitus research (ESIT) brings together a unique multidisciplinary consortium of clinical practitioners, academic researchers, commercial partners, patient organizations, and public health experts to conduct innovative research and train the next generation of tinnitus researchers. ESIT supports fundamental science and clinical research projects in order to: (1) advancing new treatment solutions for tinnitus, (2) improving existing treatment paradigms, (3) developing innovative research methods, (4) performing genetic studies on, (5) collecting epidemiological data to create new knowledge about prevalence and risk factors, (6) establishing a pan-European data resource. All research projects involve inter-sectoral partnerships through practical training, quite unlike anything that can be offered by any single university alone. Likewise, the postgraduate training curriculum fosters a deep knowledge about tinnitus whilst nurturing transferable competencies in personal qualities and approaches needed to be an effective researcher, knowledge of the standards, requirements and professionalism to do research, and skills to work with others and to ensure the wider impact of research. ESIT is the seed for future generations of creative, entrepreneurial, and innovative researchers, trained to master the upcoming challenges in the tinnitus field, to implement sustained changes in prevention and clinical management of tinnitus, and to shape doctoral education in tinnitus for the future.

Keywords: PhD studentship; education; hearing; heterogeneity of tinnitus; medical; tinnitus.

Figure 1

The ESIT structure. Work packages 1–3 deliver the research projects, Work package 4 is to ensure the fluent and effective management of ESIT, Work package 5 is to coordinate the training and recruitment of the students, Work package 6 manages the internal and external communication, and Work package 7 ensures the sustainability of the ESIT achievements. Work packages 4–7 are led by the University of Regensburg, University of Nottingham, Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, and University of Regensburg, respectively.

Figure 2

Overview of the ESIT training curriculum structured according to the Vitae Researcher Development Framework. The four essential domains of learning and development are given in the four squares, with individual training modules arranged below.