Dr. Kenneth Lee Showcases Qualia Oto’s Advances at ESPCI 2025

Dr. Lee presented Qualia Oto’s novel electrode arrays that can be incorporated into cochlear implantations.

June 25, 2025 – Qualia Oto CMO Dr. Kenneth Lee recently highlighted the company internationally, presenting at the 17th European Symposium on Pediatric Cochlear Implantation (ESPCI 2025) hosted by Hannover Medical School’s Department of Otolaryngology in Hannover, Germany. This premier international event, June 11-14, 2025, brought together leading experts, researchers, clinicians, and industry innovators to advance the field of pediatric cochlear implantation, transforming the lives of deaf and hard-of-hearing children worldwide.

Dr. Lee’s talk, entitled “Achieving Perimodiolar Position with a Lateral Wall Insertion using a Shape Memory Polymer CI Array”, attracted a large global audience of peers and industry stakeholders.

“Another outstanding ESPCI conference this month in Hannover, Germany,” said Dr. Lee. “It was great to catch up with cochlear implant leaders from around the world. It was also the perfect venue to give an update on our latest progress regarding the development of our shape memory polymer based electrode array that can be inserted atraumatically along the lateral wall but then slowly self-coil to the perimodiolar position for optimal electrical stimulation – the best of both worlds!”

ESPCI 2025 is a cornerstone event in the global audiology and otolaryngology communities, recognized for its role in driving progress in cochlear implant technology, surgical techniques, and rehabilitation strategies. Since its inception, ESPCI has been a catalyst for groundbreaking research and multidisciplinary collaboration, fostering advancements that have reshaped care for children with hearing loss. The symposium’s return to Hannover – which claims home to one of the world’s largest CI programs with over 10,000 implants since 1984 – underscores its historical and scientific significance.

“Presenting at ESPCI 2025 offered terrific opportunities for Qualia Oto to enhance its visibility and establish itself as an innovative leader,” noted COO Benedict Voit. “Moreover, the symposium’s rigorous peer-review process ensured that only high-impact research is featured, lending significant credibility to Dr. Lee's presentation.”

The conference’s global reach is extensive, attracting participants from Europe, Asia, the Americas, Africa, and beyond. Attendees included otologists, audiologists, psychologists, educators, and researchers, and ESPCI 2025 facilitated a rich exchange of ideas. Its comprehensive program, featuring keynote speeches, plenary sessions, workshops, and a large industry exhibition, covered critical topics such as auditory system plasticity, robotic surgery, telehealth, and sustainable healthcare models.

Qualia Oto CEO Connie Manz joined Dr. Lee in Hannover: “ESPCI was a great opportunity to gather with leaders in the field from around the world to discuss recent advancements as well as what is still needed to continue to improve cochlear implant access and outcomes. Meeting face-to-face with our partners, advisors, and other researchers helps us remember how our work fits into the bigger picture of global deafness and motivates us to continue innovating.”

The event’s international prestige is further amplified by partnerships with organizations as well as industry leaders MED-EL, Cochlear, and Advanced Bionics.

This year’s symposium followed the lead of ESPCI 2023 in Rotterdam, where Dr. Lee also presented. Qualia Oto thanks the ESPCI for the opportunity to share its ongoing development in the field. For more information on the conference, visit www.espci2025.org.

About Qualia Oto

Qualia Oto is an innovative biomedical device company focused on improving the individual’s quality of life through better aural technologies. By integrating our proprietary shape-adaptive polymers, we are advancing the next generation of cochlear implants allowing for minimal trauma, a superior positioning of electrodes, and an increased effectiveness and stimulatory resolution for chronic, targeted microstimulation. Qualia Oto’s team of medical and scientific experts aim to reshape – literally and figuratively – cochlear implants and their capacity in overcoming debilitating hearing loss.

For additional information, please contact:

Benedict Voit, Chief Operating Officer

benedict.voit@qualiaoto.com