Robert Harrison

Harrison joined the Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) and the University of Toronto as a research scientist in 1984. At both institutions he was appointed in the Department of Otolaryngology. During his tenure at SickKids he carried out basic and clinical research and supervised numerous Master's and PhD trainees. At the University he was actively involved in teaching and administrative duties.

Research

His research background was in neurophysiology and auditory science. He established and directed the Auditory Science Laboratory at SickKids until becoming Senior Scientist Emeritus in 2021. His main basic research interests were in the neuroscience of hearing and the development of the auditory brain. His clinical research related to hearing loss in children, and cochlear implantation. During his career, Harrison published over 200 peer-reviewed papers and dozens of textbook chapters.

Education and experience

• 1992: DSc, Faculty of Science, University of Birmingham, UK.
• 1983: Charge de Recherche INSERM University of Bordeaux, France.
• 1979: Research Fellow, National Institute of Health and Medical Research (INSERM) France.
• 1978: PhD, Communication and Neuroscience, University of Keele, UK.
• 1973: BSc (hons), Biological Sciences, University of Birmingham, UK.

Achievements

• 2017: SENTAC (Society for Ear Nose and throat Advances in children) Scientific Achievement Award.
• 2013: Award of Excellence, Canadian Association of Speech Language Pathologists and Audiologists.
• 2012: Elected Member of the International Academy of Otorhinolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery.
• 2009: Canadian Pediatric Society, Noni MacDonald Prize.
• 2006: Scientific Director, The Hearing Foundation of Canada.
• 1991: Elected to Collegium Oto-Rhino-Laryngologicum Amicitiae Sacrum (CORLAS).
• 1983: Visiting Fellow, King Gustav V Research Institute, Karolinska Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden.
• 1982: Visiting Scientist, Department of ENT, University of Leiden, The Netherlands.
• 1980: Visiting Fellow, Department of Neurophysiology, College de France, Paris, France.

1. Carraro M, Almishaal A, Hillas E, Firpo M, Park A, Harrison RV. Cytomegalovirus (CMV) Infection Causes Degeneration of Cochlear Vasculature and Hearing Loss in a Mouse Model. J Assoc Res Otolaryngol. 2017 Apr;18(2):263-273. doi: 10.1007/s10162-016-0606-4. Epub 2016 Dec 19. PMID: 27995350; PMCID: PMC5352614.

2. Harrison RV, Gordon KA, Papsin BC, Negandhi J, James AL. Auditory neuropathy spectrum disorder (ANSD) and cochlear implantation. Int J Pediatr Otorhinolaryngol. 2015 Dec;79(12):1980-7. doi: 10.1016/j.ijporl.2015.10.006. Epub 2015 Oct 17. PMID: 26545793.

3. Harrison RV, Gordon KA, Mount RJ. Is there a critical period for cochlear implantation in congenitally deaf children? Analyses of hearing and speech perception performance after implantation. Dev Psychobiol. 2005 Apr;46(3):252-61. doi: 10.1002/dev.20052. PMID: 15772969.

4. Negandhi J, Harrison AL, Allemang C, Harrison RV. Time course of cochlear injury discharge (excitotoxicity) determined by ABR monitoring of contralateral cochlear events. Hear Res. 2014 Sep;315:34-9. doi: 10.1016/j.heares.2014.06.002. Epub 2014 Jun 26. PMID: 24973579.

5. Harrison RV, Harel N, Panesar J, Mount RJ. Blood capillary distribution correlates with hemodynamic-based functional imaging in cerebral cortex. Cereb Cortex. 2002 Mar;12(3):225-33. doi: 10.1093/cercor/12.3.225. PMID: 11839597.

See a full list of Robert Harrison's publications