Focused Ultrasound Surgery Foundation

Principal Investigator: Seung-Schik Yoo, Ph.D., Brigham & Women's Hospital, Department of Radiology 

Co-Investigators: Alexandra Golby, M.D. Ph.D., Brigham & Women's Hospital, Department of Neurosurgery; Nathan McDannold, Ph.D., Brigham & Women's Hospital, Department of Radiology, Focused Ultrasound Laboratory 

Abstract :The goal of the proposed research is to investigate the feasibility of using low-intensity and lowfrequency focused ultrasound energy to reversibly modulate the activity of a region-specific brain area. We will modulate the cortical activity from an animal brain using FUS sonication, as monitored by real-time functional MRI. Prior to the animal experiment, in-vitro phantoms containing neural cells will be constructed and sonicated to estimate the range of suitable sonication parameters. This work is expected to provide an unprecedented opportunity for the transient functional modulation of targeted brain regions, creating a new line of applications, such as FUS-mediated functional mapping.

Principal Investigator: Dennis L. Parker, Ph.D., University of Utah, Department of Biomedical Engineering

Co-Investigator: Douglas Christensen, Ph.D., University of Utah, Department of Bioengineering

Abstract: Accurate, near-real-time temperature measurements are essential for effective monitoring of all types of thermal therapies. Current methods are too slow, subject to substantial errors from motion and fail in fat. We propose: 1) To develop a modification of the PRF technique to allow simultaneous measurement of proton longitudinal relaxation rate, T1. 2) To continue the implementation of model-based linear predictive techniques to utilize the best estimate of tissue thermal properties and linear predictive filtering (e.g. Kalman filter) to obtain the current estimate of the temperature distribution from the prior temperature distribution. Tissue thermal properties will be estimated based upon segmentation from multiple MRI contrasts  

Principal Investigator: Lili Chen, Ph.D., Fox Chase Cancer Center, Radiation Oncology Department

Co-Investigator: Alan Pollack, M.D., Ph.D., Fox Chase Cancer Center, Radiation Oncology Department

Abstract: This project will determine whether (1) HIFU increases the cellular update of docetaxel in vivo, and (2) the increased uptake of docetaxel combined with RT will enhance tumor growth inhibition. We will determine the optimal HIFU parameters, quantify the update of docetaxel using a radioactive tritiated docetaxel and evaluate the efficacy of docetaxel+RT in inhibiting prostate tumor growth in vivo. This research has the potential to improve local control and may also have effects on distant microscopic disease by promoting immune response, which will also lay the foundation for other tumor models and studies on gene therapy and thrombolytic drugs.