Piers Dawes

Professor Piers Dawes is a Professor at the University of Queensland (UQ), holding dual appointments as the Director of the Centre for Hearing Research (CHEAR) and Co-Director of the Research Training Centre within the School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences. He also maintains an ongoing role at the University of Manchester. His research focuses on understanding hearing impairment in aging populations, particularly its intersection with dementia and multimorbidity, alongside developing preventive strategies and improving hearing service delivery. He has received significant funding, including a €6.2 million EU Horizon 2020 grant for the SENSE-Cog project, which addresses sensory support for elderly Europeans. His work integrates epidemiological analyses, clinical trials, and health policy studies. Key awards include the British Society of Audiology’s TS Littler Prize and a US-UK Fulbright Award.

Research Interests: Dawes’ work spans three core areas—understanding hearing loss etiologies in older adults, advancing hearing service equity through culturally responsive practices, and evaluating interventions for sensory impairments in dementia care. His projects emphasize translational research, with a focus on improving quality of life through evidence-based solutions. Recent emphases include barriers to hearing care access for culturally diverse populations and the development of cognitive assessments adapted for sensory-impaired individuals.

Grants & Awards: Over the past five years, he has secured over AUD$14.5 million in grants as a Principal Investigator, including major NHMRC awards and industry partnerships with hearing aid manufacturers. His funding supports initiatives like the SENSE-Cog field trial, which evaluates sensory support interventions in aged care settings. Collaborations with institutions like the NIHR and Alzheimer’s Society UK underscore his international research impact.

Labs/Teams: As Director of CHEAR, he leads a multidisciplinary team addressing hearing health challenges. His work intersects with the Manchester Centre for Audiology and Deafness, fostering global research networks. Projects often involve partnerships with clinical and industrial stakeholders to ensure practical applications of findings.