NEWSROOM
The MedTech innovation set to redefine hearing loss treatment
Dr Haruna Suzuki-Kerr is a researcher at Waipapa Taumata Rau, the University of Auckland, who is on a mission to revolutionise hearing care—translating cutting-edge research into real-world solutions.
For Dr Haruna Suzuki-Kerr, the journey from academic research to medtech innovation represents a strategic step towards making an impact. With a background in physiology and a deep passion for global health, she has dedicated her career to addressing gaps in hearing loss treatment.
Hearing loss affects almost one in six people in New Zealand, with ageing populations driving an increase in cases. About 880,000 people in Aotearoa, and 1.5 billion worldwide, experience hearing loss.
“A large majority of hearing loss is a type called sensorineural hearing loss. Sensorineural hearing loss happens gradually, but we have no way to stop it, and is irreversible once developed. Currently, our options are limited to hearing aids, or if it becomes profound, cochlear implants—which require surgery. A drug-based option is missing,” says Haruna.
Promising drug compounds exist, but none have made it through clinical trials to be approved for large number of people with sensorineural hearing loss. This is largely due to the challenge of delivering treatments directly to the inner ear, where therapies need to reach Sensorineural hearing loss also varies widely across individuals, and current diagnostics don’t reveal its biological causes, making targeted treatment difficult.
To bridge this gap, Haruna is working with a well-established auditory neuroscience researcher Professor Peter Thorne and collaborators to develop a device that delivers therapeutic compounds directly to the cochlea. Last year, the team secured five years of research funding through MBIE’s Endeavour Fund. Testing in sheep models, chosen for their anatomical similarities to humans, has so far shown promising results. Haruna, Peter and the team intend to establish a New Zealand-based company designed to manufacture cutting-edge inner ear treatments, attract international investment and foster partnerships with leading pharmaceutical companies—delivering both economic and healthcare benefits.
Hearing loss, when left untreated, has far-reaching consequences, affecting the lives of children and adults alike. Advancing hearing therapeutics will enable participation and addresses inequalities. Beyond personal hardship, its economic impact is staggering, costing New Zealand approximately $4.6 billion annually.
“This funding gives us the resources to push our research forward while planning for translation and commercialisation.” Haruna is particularly excited about the broader implications of their work. “If we can solve the drug delivery challenge, it opens the door for an entirely new category of treatments for sensorineural hearing loss.”
From research to innovation
In 2022, Haruna joined Te Tītoki Mataora (TTM) – the CMDT & MedTech Research Network, a nationwide initiative affiliated with the University of Auckland and the Auckland Bioengineering Institute (ABI).
“From the beginning, we knew that if we wanted to create lasting change, we had to move beyond the lab and into commercialisation. Bringing our discoveries to market is a key part of our strategy to ensure accessibility and scalability. The network provided knowledge, connections and seed funding that helped us find right collaborators and explore stakeholder engagement.”
Being part of the network also introduced her to a new way of thinking. “I realised commercialisation wasn’t just about scientific discovery—it required understanding market needs, assessing competitors, and proving feasibility. The TTM commercial board challenged us with key questions, and I saw how naïve I was about commercialisation terminologies and concepts. I realised that I needed to upskill myself in entrepreneurship.”
This realisation led her to apply and to join the Research to Innovation Hatchery programme at the Business School’s Centre for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (CIE). The programme is offered free to researchers at the University, providing structured mentorship and hands-on application. “Joining Hatchery was such a steep learning curve. We started identifying, assessing economic viability, and defining a minimum viable product. It really changed our approach.”
To build on this foundation, she later participated in CIE’s Venture Lab programme, which helped keep their momentum going. The programme also supported her team in engaging with international companies and pharmaceutical developers through mentorship.
“By the end, we had built relationships with over 10 global industrial experts from biotech and pharmaceutical companies and conducted in-depth market research. The input from those companies were very insightful in validating our market hypothesis.”
Looking back, she sees these experiences as transformative. “For academics wanting to expand their skill set and explore commercialisation, programmes like these are invaluable.”
Haruna and Peter are now preparing for the next phase of their journey. They are actively engaging with venture capital firms to secure further funding and accelerate development in parallel to ongoing research work.
“Commercialisation is a long road, but it’s the most effective way to take our research from the lab to the world. It’s also incredibly motivating because we’re working toward something that could become a real product and make the world a better place.”
Learn more about the Research to Innovation Hatchery – applications close 16 March
Professor Peter Thorne and Dr. Haruna Suzuki-Kerr
Professor Peter Thorne and Dr. Haruna Suzuki-Kerr
Dr Haruna Suzuki-Kerr is a researcher at Waipapa Taumata Rau, the University of Auckland, who is on a mission to revolutionise hearing care—translating cutting-edge research into real-world solutions.
For Dr Haruna Suzuki-Kerr, the journey from academic research to medtech innovation represents a strategic step towards making an impact. With a background in physiology and a deep passion for global health, she has dedicated her career to addressing gaps in hearing loss treatment.
Hearing loss affects almost one in six people in New Zealand, with ageing populations driving an increase in cases. About 880,000 people in Aotearoa, and 1.5 billion worldwide, experience hearing loss.
“A large majority of hearing loss is a type called sensorineural hearing loss. Sensorineural hearing loss happens gradually, but we have no way to stop it, and is irreversible once developed. Currently, our options are limited to hearing aids, or if it becomes profound, cochlear implants—which require surgery. A drug-based option is missing,” says Haruna.
Promising drug compounds exist, but none have made it through clinical trials to be approved for large number of people with sensorineural hearing loss. This is largely due to the challenge of delivering treatments directly to the inner ear, where therapies need to reach Sensorineural hearing loss also varies widely across individuals, and current diagnostics don’t reveal its biological causes, making targeted treatment difficult.
To bridge this gap, Haruna is working with a well-established auditory neuroscience researcher Professor Peter Thorne and collaborators to develop a device that delivers therapeutic compounds directly to the cochlea. Last year, the team secured five years of research funding through MBIE’s Endeavour Fund. Testing in sheep models, chosen for their anatomical similarities to humans, has so far shown promising results. Haruna, Peter and the team intend to establish a New Zealand-based company designed to manufacture cutting-edge inner ear treatments, attract international investment and foster partnerships with leading pharmaceutical companies—delivering both economic and healthcare benefits.
Hearing loss, when left untreated, has far-reaching consequences, affecting the lives of children and adults alike. Advancing hearing therapeutics will enable participation and addresses inequalities. Beyond personal hardship, its economic impact is staggering, costing New Zealand approximately $4.6 billion annually.
“This funding gives us the resources to push our research forward while planning for translation and commercialisation.” Haruna is particularly excited about the broader implications of their work. “If we can solve the drug delivery challenge, it opens the door for an entirely new category of treatments for sensorineural hearing loss.”
From research to innovation
In 2022, Haruna joined Te Tītoki Mataora (TTM) – the CMDT & MedTech Research Network, a nationwide initiative affiliated with the University of Auckland and the Auckland Bioengineering Institute (ABI).
“From the beginning, we knew that if we wanted to create lasting change, we had to move beyond the lab and into commercialisation. Bringing our discoveries to market is a key part of our strategy to ensure accessibility and scalability. The network provided knowledge, connections and seed funding that helped us find right collaborators and explore stakeholder engagement.”
Being part of the network also introduced her to a new way of thinking. “I realised commercialisation wasn’t just about scientific discovery—it required understanding market needs, assessing competitors, and proving feasibility. The TTM commercial board challenged us with key questions, and I saw how naïve I was about commercialisation terminologies and concepts. I realised that I needed to upskill myself in entrepreneurship.”
This realisation led her to apply and to join the Research to Innovation Hatchery programme at the Business School’s Centre for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (CIE). The programme is offered free to researchers at the University, providing structured mentorship and hands-on application. “Joining Hatchery was such a steep learning curve. We started identifying, assessing economic viability, and defining a minimum viable product. It really changed our approach.”
To build on this foundation, she later participated in CIE’s Venture Lab programme, which helped keep their momentum going. The programme also supported her team in engaging with international companies and pharmaceutical developers through mentorship.
“By the end, we had built relationships with over 10 global industrial experts from biotech and pharmaceutical companies and conducted in-depth market research. The input from those companies were very insightful in validating our market hypothesis.”
Looking back, she sees these experiences as transformative. “For academics wanting to expand their skill set and explore commercialisation, programmes like these are invaluable.”
Haruna and Peter are now preparing for the next phase of their journey. They are actively engaging with venture capital firms to secure further funding and accelerate development in parallel to ongoing research work.
“Commercialisation is a long road, but it’s the most effective way to take our research from the lab to the world. It’s also incredibly motivating because we’re working toward something that could become a real product and make the world a better place.”
Learn more about the Research to Innovation Hatchery – applications close 16 March
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