Brinkman Lecture

Every year a special lecture, named after the founder of the Nijmgen ENT-department is prepared.

In 2025 Prof. dr. Sébastien Schmerber will present the Brinkman Lecture.

Title of his presentation: “The skull vibration induced nystagmus test: state of the art “

The Ear and Hearing Center of the university Hospital of Grenoble, France, directed by Prof. Sébastien Schmerber, MD; PhD is a regional center that provides specialized diagnostic and surgical care to adult and pediatric patients with diseases of the ear. Grenoble University Hospital has a particularly long tradition with implantation for individuals with profound hearing loss as well as middle ear implants for the hearing impaired. He was the first in France to use the Bone conducted active implant Bonebridge and has also a large experience with the Vibrant Soundbridge since 1997. Some of the world’s first cochlear implant surgeries were performed in Grenoble in the early seventies. Prof Schmerber focuses his research on computer assisted surgery in the late 1990s, and later on auditory monitoring using by mean of microelectrodes for direct nerve neuro-monitoring. His current research activities concentrate on intracochlear microsystems using nanotechnology as well a clinical research in the field of cochlear implant. Clinical Vestibular Research has also been a main topic in the Department since more than 15 years. In particular, we have pioneered a new objective tool using vibrations applied to the skull for multi frequency vestibular Assessment (Vibration induced nystagmus), and new imaging techniques in assessing hydrops in the labyrinth.