FUSF Newsletter: Volume 22
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FOCUSED ULTRASOUND
SURGERY FOUNDATION |
NEWSLETTER VOL. 22 |
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Dear Reader,
Despite its reputation for being a slow season, summer has been a bustling time at the Foundation. While planning for the 2nd International Symposium on MR-guided Focused Ultrasound continues to intensify, two other major developments are making headlines this month.
First is the election of healthcare leader and visionary, Andrew von Eschenbach, M.D., to our Board of Directors. Second is the announcement that the Foundation distributed more than $.5 million in research awards during the first half of 2010.
We are honored and excited to have Dr. von Eschenbach join our distinguished board. One of Time magazine's “100 most influential people to shape the world," his credentials are peerless and his commitment to innovation unwavering.
He alone has served both as Commissioner of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and as Director of the National Cancer Institute (NCI) at the National Institutes of Health—two of the most powerful positions in U.S. healthcare. At both agencies, he was a change-agent who fostered innovative approaches to protecting and promoting public health. He embraced the use of the latest scientific tools and emerging technologies.
At the FDA, he encouraged the development of a regulatory pathway that is transparent and efficient while still rigorous and science led. At the NCI, he sought to accelerate and integrate the discovery-development-delivery continuum. Clearly, von Eschenbach will have a profound impact on the work of the Foundation.
Our second key development this month is the announcement of research projects funded by the Foundation during the first half of 2010. All are profiled in this issue.
Made possible by the generosity of our donors, the six new awards are supporting projects that will help develop MR-guided focused ultrasound treatments for many new patient indications from breast and liver cancer, to diabetes and stroke. We are proud to be supporting these projects and to be furthering our mission of alleviating suffering and prolonging life for millions of people worldwide.
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 Andrew von Eschenbach, M.D., a thought leader and healthcare visionary of international stature, has become the newest member of the Focused Ultrasound Surgery Foundation's Board of Directors.
Elected at the Board's August 4 meeting, von Eschenbach holds the distinction of being the only person to have led both the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the National Cancer Institute at the National Institutes of Health. In 2006, Time magazine named him one of the "100 most influential people to shape the world."
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 On the eve of its 37th anniversary in early July, Jaslok Hospital and Research Centre in Mumbai announced it was launching the era of non-invasive surgery in India by opening the first MR-guided focused ultrasound facility in that country. The hospital will offer approved treatments and conduct research and clinical trials for breast, liver and bone cancer.
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New noninvasive treatments for breast and liver cancer, diabetes, stroke and other brain disorders may soon emerge from research projects funded by the Focused Ultrasound Surgery Foundation during the first half of 2010.
In all, the Foundation awarded $512,929 to six projects from January to June this year. Three researchers received funding through the Foundation's Research Award Program; three others were contracted by the Brain Program to lead projects addressing key technical issues.
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 Two internationally-recognized thought leaders have joined the Foundation's Research Advisory Council (RAC): Professor Stephen Meairs, M.D. and Dan Leksell, M.D.
Meairs is a Professor of Neurology at the University of Heidelberg and Coordinator of the European Stroke Research Network (EUSTROKE), a collaborative effort among researchers, government, industry, the non-profit sector and patient associations.
 Leksell is Senior Advisor at Elekta, AB in Stockholm. Son of Gamma Knife inventor, Lars Leksell, he has served as head of clinical research and medical affairs for Elekta.
The RAC is an independent panel of experts and thought leaders from academia, industry and government. Members evaluate research proposals and help the Foundation identify projects with high potential to advance the field of MR-guided focused ultrasound and accelerate the availability of new patient treatments.
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Sara Horton - Accountant
 A graduate of the University of South Carolina, Horton has worked for more than a decade in financial management and accounting. She has worked in the nonprofit sector for nearly half of her career and enjoys supporting key managers and boards of directors. Horton joined the Foundation team in February 2010 and is responsible for fiscal operations and various human resources activities.
Rachel Browning - Development Assistant
 A recent graduate of the University of Virginia, Browning joined the Foundation team in March. She is supporting a wide range of development activities and events. Attracted by the Foundation's cause and the potential of MR-guided focused ultrasound to help countless people, Browning says it is exciting to be part of a grassroots effort that could someday revolutionize healthcare.
Tracey Daniels - Patient Support Outreach Associate, Fibroid Relief
 Daniels is a graduate of the University of Mary Washington and has more than a decade of communications experience in the nonprofit sector. A member of the Foundation team since July, she coordinates activities related to patient outreach, public events and treatment center partnerships. She also manages social media and other communications activities for the Foundation's Fibroid Relief initiative. Interested in health care issues, Daniels is excited to be involved in educating women about treatment options and in promoting a new technology.
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Last Updated on Thursday, August 05 2010 13:40
