UC Irvine Giving Day 2025

Help Us Find a Cure for Hearing Loss and Related Issues

Help us meet the challenge to advance Dr. Djalilian's vital work! The Fearns Family is issuing two generous challenges this Giving Day. The first 10 gifts received will unlock $12,500 in support of Dr. Djalilian’s research. When we reach 20 gifts, an additional $12,500 will be unlocked.

Under the leadership of Dr. Hamid Djalilian, professor of otolaryngology and biomedical engineering at UC Irvine, a research team is leading the way to find a cure for hearing loss, tinnitus, balance issues, migraine, vertigo and facial paralysis.

A gift of any amount accelerates Djalilian's work to develop new devices and technologies, and to bring to market novel medications and novel treatments which will end the suffering of millions with hearing loss and imbalance issues.

“We are honored to support Dr. Djalilian’s pathbreaking research and care in hearing and balance. His compassion and expertise have made a profound impact on our lives and so many others. Please join us on Giving Day by making a gift. Together, we can accelerate Dr. Djalilian’s pioneering work and bring promise to the millions who are suffering from hearing loss, tinnitus and beyond. Thank you!”

– Geoff and Valerie Fearns

Your gift today will directly support the following: 

• An electrical stimulation device, the only one in the world showing promise for curing tinnitus (ringing in the ears).
• A novel hearing aid that directly vibrates the ear drum, providing a much higher quality sound than conventional hearing aids.
• A new device that creates facial symmetry for patients suffering from facial paralysis.
• A novel combination medication to treat patients with recurrent vertigo caused by migraine or Meniere’s disease.
• A novel device for painless diagnosis of ear infections.
• Two novel drug combinations to treat tinnitus.
• A new molecular treatment for age related and noise induced hearing loss.
• A novel molecular genetic treatment to regenerate hearing cells in the inner ear and reverse hearing loss.

With your partnership on Giving Day, we can continue to make tremendous strides and inspire hope for new life-changing treatments, clinical breakthroughs and cures.

Thank you for your generosity and for being a hero to people across the globe who suffer from hearing loss, facial paralysis and balance issues. 

With the support from last year’s Giving Day campaign, we received 25 gifts, which were instrumental in advancing hearing treatments, as well as developing new technologies for hearing loss, migraine, ringing in the ears and balance. These gifts also supported innovative research that is first in the world and shows tremendous promise to cure these issues. Please join us again this year to accelerate our efforts to transform hearing and balance technologies and treatments, which will impact the lives of millions.    

Please contact Joy Kliewer, PhD, senior director of development, at joy.kliewer@uci.edu or 310-486-9265 to learn more about Djalilian’s research and opportunities for support.