Sonical, the innovator behind the Remora hearing platform, has announced a strategic research partnership with Newcastle University to develop and rapidly deploy new technologies aimed at supporting people living with tinnitus.
The collaboration brings together Sonical’s AI-powered Remora device with Newcastle University’s world-leading neuroscience expertise, led by Dr William Sedley, a globally recognised expert in auditory perception and tinnitus neuroscience. Together, they aim to accelerate the translation of promising tinnitus research into practical solutions that can reach real people faster than ever before.
Tackling a Growing Global Problem
Tinnitus, characterised by persistent ringing or buzzing in the ears, affects hundreds of millions worldwide and can severely impact sleep, concentration, and overall quality of life. Despite decades of research, effective support has remained limited. Clinical trials are often small, fragmented, and measured in years rather than months.
“For people living with tinnitus, the pace of innovation simply hasn’t been fast enough,” said Gary Spittle, Founder and CEO of Sonical, who also manages the condition personally. “Too many are left waiting for solutions that may never reach them. We’re on a mission to change that.”
A New Model for Real-World Impact
The partnership aims to create a faster, more practical path from research lab to everyday life. Using the Remora platform, therapeutic approaches developed by Dr Sedley’s team can be delivered directly to users at scale—without relying on smartphones or specialist clinics. This allows for rapid testing, iteration, and data collection with large populations, rather than limited, time-bound studies.
“Remora gives us a unique opportunity to take cutting-edge neuroscience and put it into the hands – and ears – of people who need it far more quickly than traditional methods allow,” said Dr William Sedley. “By working together, we can evaluate new approaches in the real world and learn at a pace that simply hasn’t been possible before.”
Remora: More Than Just Headphones
At the core of this collaboration is Remora, a personal computing device capable of running advanced audio processing and custom therapeutic algorithms directly on the hardware. Unlike conventional earbuds, Remora offers:
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Always-on, discreet support for tinnitus sufferers
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Real-time audio modifications that can turn everyday sounds into personalised sound therapy
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Independence from smartphones or other devices, making it accessible anytime, anywhere
“The idea of people being able to quieten their tinnitus just by going about their normal daily activities is very exciting,” added Dr Sedley.
This approach positions Remora as more than a music device—it is a platform for meaningful health applications, with tinnitus as its first major focus.
Embracing Diverse Solutions
Tinnitus is a complex and highly individual condition, meaning no single solution works for everyone. The partnership emphasises exploring a wide range of approaches, from methods that help small groups to those with modest effects that can be combined for greater impact.
“If a new method helps even ten percent of people with tinnitus, that’s still millions of lives improved,” said Spittle. “Our goal is to get promising ideas into the real world quickly, learn from real users, and keep moving forward.”
The initial focus of the collaboration will be on deploying Newcastle University’s latest tinnitus research via Remora and collecting large-scale, real-world data to guide future development.
While tinnitus is the immediate priority, both organisations view this as the beginning of a broader partnership, aiming to transform how auditory and brain-related hearing conditions are understood and supported.
“This is only the start,” said Dr Sedley. “The combination of advanced research and an agile platform like Remora, which integrates sensors and audio, opens up exciting possibilities for many areas of hearing and brain health.”
For more information on Sonical and Remora, visit Sonical and Remora Pro.
