The Duke Department of Head and Neck Surgery & Communication Sciences, working with the Duke Clinical Research Institute, is at the forefront of efforts to improve the quality of clinical research in disorders of the ear, nose, and throat. In an effort funded by the National Institutes of Health, researchers at Duke created CHEER (Creating Healthcare Excellence through Education and Research), a clinical research network.
Connecting Research and Clinical Practice
CHEER was developed to foster high-quality, multicenter clinical research in all disorders within otolaryngology. The network is centered around alliances between academic institutions and community practitioners, bringing large-scale research opportunities to providers across the country.
The CHEER network:
- Creates much-needed infrastructure for implementing clinical trials across otolaryngology
- Bridges the gap between empirical research and clinical practice
- Conducts practical clinical trials to produce guidelines for best practices that can more readily be implemented in community practices
- Plays an important role in educating community practitioners on conducting research
Current Studies
CHEER is conducting or has recently completed studies in the areas of:
- Sudden hearing loss
- Migraine disorders
- Tinnitus
- Ménière's disease
- Vertigo
CHEER has also worked closely with the American Academy of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery Foundation to conduct statistical analysis to support patient-care guidelines.