.png)
HAVE YOU HEARD?
RECENT HIGH NOTES OF QUALIA OTO
COO Benedict Voit Highlights Qualia Oto as Guest Lecturer at UT Dallas
December 8, 2025 – Last week, Benedict Voit wrapped up the semester for the UT Dallas graduate class "Seminar on cochlear implants and technology for persons who are deaf or hard of hearing." Taught by Dr. Warner-Czyz at the Callier Center Dallas, the class provided Doctorate of Audiology students knowledge on topics such as the foundations of cochlear implants, the approach to determining candidacy, and the underlying technologies, programming, and troubleshooting, as well as current issues in the CI space.
Voit’s presentation focused on Qualia Oto’s technological advancements in the field. "I always enjoy the opportunity to share our company’s innovations, and I appreciate the positive feedback I received from the students."
Dr. Kenneth Lee Showcases Qualia Oto at APPOS 2025 and APSCI 2025
November 18, 2025 – From Seoul, South Korea to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, CMO Dr. Kenneth Lee showcased the exciting technologies Qualia Oto is developing that can advance the field of cochlear implantation. Dr. Lee presented Qualia Oto’s latest data on shape memory polymer cochlear implant arrays at the 10th Asia Pacific Pediatric Otolaryngology Society Conference (APPOS 2025) before traveling to Kuala Lumpur for the 15th Asia Pacific Symposium on Cochlear Implants and Related Sciences which selected him as one of its Keynote Lecturers.
"The presentation was met with much enthusiasm from the conference participants," Dr. Lee noted. "I was flooded with questions after the talk, reflecting clear interest in Qualia Oto’s technology." Read more.
Dr. Kenneth Lee Leads Cochlear Implant Surgery Techniques Course at Yonsei University College of Medicine
November 6, 2025 – Yonsei University in Seoul, South Korea, invited Qualia Oto CMO Dr. Kenneth Lee to its 17th Endoscopic Ear Surgery, Hearing Implant, and Lateral Skullbase Cadaveric Dissection Workshop where he taught his class Cochlear Implant Surgery Techniques. Over 30 individuals were able to watch Dr. Lee in person and witness his delicate surgical precision on several screens in the lab.
Yonsei University College of Medicine is one of the most prestigious medical schools in Korea. It is part of Yonsei University, the oldest private university in the country, dating back to 1885.
Richardson Chamber of Commerce Honors Dr. Walter Voit with its 2025 Entrepreneurial Spirit Award
September 29, 2025 – The Chamber of Commerce in Richardson, TX announced the winners of its annual Economic Development, Growth, and Entrepreneurship (EDGE) Awards which recognize outstanding community influencers “that create economic impact and sustain community involvement.” The 2025 Entrepreneurial Spirit Award went to Qualia Oto President Dr. Walter Voit.
Alongside Qualia Oto, Dr. Voit has co-founded an additional eight companies over the past dozen years, boosting the ongoing economic growth of the city. Other 2025 EDGE Award winners include GEICO (Economic Catalyst Award), the Credit Union of Texas (Community Impact Award), and former UT Dallas President Dr. Richard Benson (Technology Innovation Award).
Qualia Oto Successfully Concludes its $277K NIH Phase I Grant
August 17, 2025 – Qualia Oto completed Phase I of the NIH SBIR grant "Shape-Adaptive Cochlear Implant Electrode Arrays" reporting notable technical accomplishments. The team developed shape-memory polymer-inlaid, self-curling CI arrays that can transition to a perimodiolar position gradually over three hours after lateral wall implantation using a model cochlea.
Additionally, Qualia Oto validated atraumatic insertion and array placement via a human temporal bone study with microCT imaging and histological assessment; temporal bone surgery was performed by Qualia Oto’s CMO Dr. Kenneth Lee. This approach achieved a self-repositioning from the lateral wall to the modiolar wall over the four-day incubation period, resulting in a 35% increase from the average initial insertion angle.
Callier Center Hosts Annual Summer Listening Camp
August 4, 2025 – The Callier Center for Communications Disorders hosted its annual Summer Listening Camp last week, welcoming several dozen kids from ages 4-11, with the goal to provide each student individualized listening and speech-language therapy. UT Dallas graduate students joined licensed speech pathologists and audiologists to run the camp.
Qualia Oto COO Benedict Voit was invited to visit. “The Callier Center does a fabulous job welcoming and celebrating these kids,” he said. “The camp helps them not just accept, but embrace who they are as individuals – even without the amazing science and technology. Qualia Oto remains dedicated to pushing forward the cochlear implant industry and the next generation of individualized experiences.”
CMO Dr. Kenneth Lee Guest of Honor and Featured Speaker
July 7, 2025 – Qualia Oto CMO Dr. Kenneth Lee was invited as the Guest of Honor at the UT Houston Department of Otolaryngology Graduation, and he was also the invited speaker for the 2025 ORL Frontiers conference. The conference, held annually, was held “for healthcare professionals who are passionate about advancing their knowledge and skills in the field of Otorhinolaryngology – Head & Neck Surgery,” with the 2025 focus being pediatric ENT. The event boasted a full day of continuing medical education, showcasing "cutting-edge research and emerging technology in the diagnosis and management of common otolaryngologic problems."
Dr. Lee gave two presentations at the event: “The History, Evolution, and Future of Cochlear Implant Electrode Arrays” and “Academic Otolaryngology: It’s Not a Sprint, It’s a Triathlon!
ESPCI Welcomed Dr. Kenneth Lee as a Presenter for its 2025 Conference
June 25, 2025 – The 17th European Symposium on Pediatric Cochlear Implantation (ESPCI 2025) took place in Hannover, Germany, where CMO Dr. Kenneth Lee highlighted the advances of Qualia Oto.
"Another outstanding ESPCI conference this month in Hannover, Germany," Dr. Lee noted. "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 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!" Ream more.
Dr. Kenneth Lee, ACIA Board Member, Invited as CI2025 Panelist
May 13, 2025 – Qualia Oto CMO Dr. Lee represented the company as a featured panelist at the global ACIA 2025 membership meeting. The conference highlighted its push towards multidisciplinary collaboration to address topics in hearing health.
“Being able to serve the ACI Alliance as a member of the Board of Directors has been one of my greatest honors as a cochlear implant surgeon and scientist working to advance the treatment of hearing loss,” said Dr. Lee. “This opportunity has given me the privilege to work with some of the most influential professionals in the field of cochlear implantation and the treatment of hearing loss. I am excited to see what we can accomplish moving forward working together as a multidisciplinary team.” Ream more.
COO Benedict Voit Leads Callier Center's Monthly FLASH Lecture
April 29, 2025 – The Callier Center for Communication Disorders invited Benedict Voit to lead its monthly FLASH Lecture. This Friday Seminar in Speech, Language, and Hearing is the combination of education and showcasing advancements in the field. Voit discussed the intricacies of the body’s neurological recognition of sound, and highlighted Qualia Oto’s push towards advancing patient experience through a superior cochlear implant.
“I was thrilled to speak both as an educator and as the COO of Qualia Oto,” Voit noted. “Qualia Oto truly believes we can help offer the market a novel cochlear implant that has never been seen before. I was delighted to share these updates and lead a robust conversation with the audience.”
Dr. Lee Featured Lecturer at ICORL 2025
April 25, 2025 – The International Congress of ORL-HNS 2025 invited CMO Dr. Kenneth Lee as a featured speaker to its ICORL 2025 conference. ICORL 20205, in conjunction with the 99th Annual Congress of Korean Society of Otorhinolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery, held its event Suwon, South Korea April 18-20. The event boasted lectures “by renowned experts, encouraging lively discussions and the exchange of cutting-edge knowledge.”
Dr. Lee joined other otologists, rhinologists, and head and neck surgeons from around the world to share advances in the field. His talk, “Optimizing Intra-Cochlear Location and Minimizing Trauma with Shape Memory Polymer Electrode Array”, highlighted Qualia Oto’s novel approach to enhancing the efficacy of cochlear implants alongside safe implantation via the incorporation of shape-memory polymers.
Qualia Oto Awarded $300K NIH Phase I SBIR Grant
April 16, 2025 – The National Institutes of Health announced it will fund Qualia Oto’s recent Phase I grant proposal “Robotic-Inserted, Shape-Conforming Cochlear Implant Electrode Arrays.”
With this support, Qualia Oto will validate that our novel shape-changing polymers, which can adapt to the ear’s unique geometry allowing ideal placement of the implant within the inner ear, can be inserted even more reliably and favorably with assistance from robotic machinery. By slowing down insertion up to 90% relative to that of a CI surgeon’s hand, the technology delivers unprecedented control of the array insertion, which has been shown to reduce trauma to the cochlear when compared to manual insertions. Total funding will be more than $304,000 over the course of the coming 12 months. Read more here.
Dr. Walter Voit Presents at the 2025 SMBT Conference
March 5, 2025 – The Society for Brain Mapping & Therapeutics (SBMT) recently hosted its 2025 Neurotech Convention of the Society for Brain Mapping & Therapeutics. The Los Angeles conference boasted "a lineup of esteemed keynotes who deliver groundbreaking perspectives and insights into the critical issues shaping neuroscience today and charting the course for its future." The conference welcomed both national and international participants.
Qualia Oto President Dr. Walter Voit presented "Softening Bioelectronics with Shape Fixity", highlighting the future that shape-changing polymers will play in the medical field. Qualia Oto’s incorporation of these softening bioelectronics is pushing towards a profound impact on the cochlear implant industry.
PGN Invites Benedict Voit to its Industry Leader Event
February 3, 2025 – Phi Gamma Nu (PGN), a professional development organization at UT Dallas, welcomed Qualia Oto COO Benedict Voit to present at its leadership event last week. Voit joined business leaders from JP Morgan, Thompson Reuters, and BCG, as well as other serial entrepreneurs, to share insights on how students can successfully utilize their undergraduate experiences to prepare them for the next stages of life.
"Regardless of their plans upon graduation, there are concrete principles appropriate for all fields," Voit said. "I emphasized that besides needing to learn concepts and foundational skills, they also need to learn how to learn. For example, by the time they enter the business community, who knows what AI will be able to do. They must be able to adapt."
COO Benedict Voit Joins Callier Center's Board of Trustees
January 3, 2025 – Qualia Oto COO Benedict Voit recently accepted an invitation to join the Board of Trustees of the Foundation for the Callier Center for Communication Disorders. The Callier Center, an institution directly tied to both UT Dallas and UT Southwestern Medical Center, initiated its cochlear implant program in 1991. Mr. Voit has been involved with the Callier Center for many years, and the Board of Trustees extended an official invitation, noting that Voit has "an amazing background and will be such an asset to the Board."
"I am thrilled and honored to join the Board," Voit noted. "Callier boasts both clinical and academic leaders, and the UT System (and Texas in general) is fortunate to be connected with such a fantastic institution."