Blog

See It Early, Treat It Early. MR Makes Waves for Prostate Cancer in Hawaii

Published: 29 April 2009

Prostate cancer: When will we have a reliable prostate cancer screening system for men, and when we do, how will we treat those many cases of early-stage prostate cancer that are detected? Are we inching closer to a “ManoGram”? Rolf Taylor contemplates the current landscape – and the potential for increased research funding in the near future. 1 in 6 men will face prostate cancer in their lifetime, and each year it will kill 28,000 men in the U.S. alone. But unlike breast cancer, for which outcomes have improved dramatically as a result of near universal mammograms and advances in treatment options, prostate cancer remains stubbornly under diagnosed. Patients with rising PSA levels who show signs of malignancy don’t want to risk doing nothing, but can’t be sure that they definitely need treatment. And surgery carries major risks including erectile dysfunction and incontinence. Many patients need a blood transfusion during surgery.

FUSF Funds Targeted Drug Delivery Research Project

Published: 29 April 2009

“Creation and Validation of a Clinically‐relevant Ultrasound‐enhanced Drug Delivery Strategy” Katherine W. Ferrara, Ph.D., University of California, Davis Summary: The primary purpose of this study is to determine the exact protocol for maximizing ultrasound-enhanced accumulation of drug in tumor and surrounding tissue. The study will use a system which precisely quantifies full-body drug biodistribution to measure drug accumulation enhancement in relation to low-mechanical index ultrasound. A separate system will precisely control the ultrasound parameters and the resulting heating. These methods will be combined to optimize the ultrasound dose, measure accumulation and distribution of drug, and to assess efficacy. This in-vivo study will utilize liposomal cisplatin and PET imaging. The award is for $100,000, to commence Q2 2009. To see more funded research projects, see here. {sharethis}

Fibroid Relief Outreach Event

Published: 28 April 2009

Patient support sometimes means putting the information out there in peoples’ hometowns so that they can come out and learn more…and that’s a big part of our outreach at Fibroid Relief in the coming months. We’re really excited to be hosting our first Fibroid Relief At Last Patient Support Outreach event in Chicago, Illinois on June 9th from 6-8 PM at Northwestern’s Prentiss Women’s Hospital (www.fibroidrelief.org).

FUSF Funds Brain Disorder Research Project

Published: 10 April 2009

“Treatment of Chronic Functional Brain Disorders using Transcranial MR-guided Focused Ultrasound” Daniel Jeanmonod, M.D., University Children’s Hospital, Zurich

FUSF Expands Its Research Advisory Committee

Published: 9 April 2009

The FUS Foundation is pleased to announce the addition of several highly-esteemed new members to its Research Advisory Committee (RAC). The RAC reviews research funding applications and has approved several new awards during the the last two quarters. Details of this research will be announced soon.

FUSF Sponsors Landmark MRgFUS Brain Workshop FUSF Sponsors Landmark MRgFUS Brain Workshop First Major Medical Meeting Convening for MRI-guided Focused Ultrasound John Grisham Joins Focused Ultrasound Surgery Foundation Board, Citing Novel Technology's Potential to Help "Millions of Patients"