IMPACT OF NEXTSENSE INSTITUTE RESEARCH IN THE FIELD OF SENSORY DISABILITIES
With
Professor Greg Leigh AO,
Director, NextSense Institute, Australia &
Conjoint Professor,
Macquarie School of Education
Macquarie University, Sydney
RESEARCH IMPACT
Filmed in Sydney, Australia | June 2025
NextSense, formerly known as the Royal Institute for Deaf & Blind Children, is a not-for-profit established in 1860 that provides dedicated, innovative, and customised services aimed at breaking down barriers for children, adults and families of people with hearing or vision loss.
NextSense has a 165 year history of providing services and education for individuals with sensory impairments. With the support of donations, NextSense provides vital support for children and adults, more cochlear implants than any other service in Australia, and is a world leader for research, technology and professional education in the fields of visions and hearing loss.
NextSense clinicians are actively involved in a number of leading research projects—both independently and in collaboration with local and international organisations.
The NextSense Institute, part of NextSense is Australia’s leading centre for research and professional education in the field of sensory disabilities.
The Institute offers a range of educational programs, including postgraduate degrees, professional development courses, and customised training for educators, therapists, health professionals, and carers. One of its flagship programs is the Master of Disability Studies, delivered in affiliation with Macquarie University, which prepares professionals to work with individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing, blind, or have low vision.
Professor Greg Leigh AO, Director NextSense Institute, talks about 3 areas of research that have had significant impact in it’s delivery of programs and services to Australians and countries across the world.
Through this research, NextSense Institute aims to break down barriers and redefine what is possible for individuals with sensory disabilities, fostering inclusion and enhancing quality of life.
Source: Written by AUDIENCED using source information from the NextSense website
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Respiratory health and the microbiome in the lung environment
Dr Taylor leads the Respiratory Health Group within the Microbiome and Host Health Program. His research employs tailored techniques that allow the lung environment to be characterised to a high level of accuracy, including detailed measurements of airway microbiology (microbiome), mucus composition, and inflammation. This information is used to identify predictive markers of chronic lung disease severity as well as determine effective forms of therapy.
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At the frontier of human cellular neuroscience research
Associate Professor Cedric Bardy is the Director of The Laboratory for Human Neurophysiology, Genetics & Stem Cells, located at SAHMRI. South Australia.
His current research uses preclinical, patient-derived cell models to test innovative therapeutic strategies, with a current focus on Parkinson’s disease, brain cancer and childhood dementia (Sanfilippo syndrome).
His work has established a platform to facilitate the discovery and validation of treatments for brain disorders. Their research is at the frontier of human cellular neuroscience research and translational applications that benefit global public health.
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Potassium-enriched salt in the management of hypertension
Dr Katrina Kissock is a Research Fellow in Nutrition Implementation Research and Food Policy at The George Institute for Global Health, as well as a Heart Foundation Postdoctoral Fellow and Conjoint Lecturer in the Faculty of Medicine and Health at UNSW.
