Bell Therapeutics, a startup focused on developing brain science-based digital therapeutics, announced on the 7th that it has partnered with the research consortium "ECHOH" (Enhancing Cognitive Health through Optimal Hearing) to conduct joint research aimed at improving hearing and cognitive health.

ECHOH aims to enhance cognitive health through auditory improvement and has been selected as a STEAM Global Project by the National Research Foundation of Korea, receiving KRW 5.4 billion in research funding over the next five years.

According to the medical journal The Lancet, hearing loss is identified as the leading modifiable risk factor among 12 that contribute to dementia. Some institutions, including those in the U.S., have explored early interventions to maintain mental health by addressing hearing loss, yet significant breakthroughs remain limited. In response, top domestic researchers from fields such as neuroscience, speech pathology, and artificial intelligence are collaborating to develop innovative solutions for hearing loss and dementia.

The lead researcher for this project is Dr. Yoon-Seob Lim, a senior researcher at the Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST), specializing in auditory neuroscience and healthcare robotics.

The first objective, which involves developing diagnostic and rehabilitative technology for auditory cognitive function, will be led by a team of experts: Professor Ji-Hwan Woo's biomedical engineering team from Ulsan University, Professor Kyo-Koo Lee's AI-based speech signal team from Seoul National University, and Professor In-Yong Choi's audiology team from the University of Iowa in the United States.

The second objective, which focuses on developing diagnostic and rehabilitative technology for language cognitive function, will be led by Professor Ji-Eun Sung’s team, an expert in speech pathology at Ewha Womans University, and renowned language rehabilitation specialist Professor Swathi Kiran from Boston University in the United States.

Finally, the clinical research to elucidate the causal relationship between hearing loss and dementia will be led by Professor Il-Joon Moon's team from the Department of Otolaryngology at Samsung Medical Center, experts in hearing aids and cochlear implants.

Bell Therapeutics will be responsible for the development and commercialization of digital healthcare products to ensure that research outcomes can be effectively utilized in patients' daily lives and in clinical settings.

Jae-eun Lee, CEO of Bell Therapeutics, stated, “As hearing loss and dementia cases continue to rise both domestically and globally, the ECHOH consortium aims to provide groundbreaking insights into addressing these issues, ultimately improving the quality of life for patients worldwide.”