In recognition of their leadership in a broad range of focused ultrasound research and treatments, the Foundation is pleased to designate Stanford University its newest Center of Excellence. Directed by Pejman Ghanouni, MD, PhD, and Kim Butts Pauly, PhD, Stanford’s Center consists of a comprehensive slate of clinical care, pre-clinical and clinical research, and engineering.
“The group at Stanford has continually been pushing the envelope for the capacity of the technology,” says Foundation Chairman Neal F. Kassell, MD. “Their risk-taking, yet calculated approach to innovation is a model for the community, and their technical engineering work is among the best.”
Stanford is dedicated to investing in the future of medicine, and Dr. Ghanouni has been a champion of gaining resources and support for focused ultrasound’s contribution to this mission within the medical center and beyond. He has been instrumental in introducing the campus leadership to the promise of the technology, and they have been quick to recognize its role across disciplines.
“The strength of our program is in the cross-departmental collaboration that has formed over the years,” says Dr. Ghanouni. “For example, with our neurosurgical treatments for essential tremor, a patient has a neurosurgeon, neurologist, and radiologist working together to provide comprehensive care and contribute to positive outcomes.”
Stanford currently provides commercial treatment for bone metastases and uterine fibroids. They are also treating essential tremor, prostate cancer, and soft tissue tumors under clinical trial protocols. In the pre-clinical realm, ongoing projects include improved bone imaging and treatment modeling, neuromodulation, and blood-brain barrier opening for cancer treatments. Interdepartmental involvement includes collaboration across Radiology, Gynecology, Medical Oncology, Radiation Oncology, Neurosurgery, Neurology, Orthopedic Surgery, Urology, Pathology, Immunology, and Electrical and Mechanical Engineering.
Dr. Butts Pauly adds, “When the clinicians come to us and tell us that our work has allowed MR-guided focused ultrasound to reach farther and perform better, it truly validates the engineering side of our partnership. We are constantly striving to improve the reach of the technology, and it feels great to make a contribution that allows a patient to be treated in a way that was not previously possible.”
To fully demonstrate the breadth of Stanford’s ongoing clinical projects and applications, the list below contains the physicians/scientists who are collaborating to integrate focused ultrasound into their respective areas of expertise:
Stanford Fibroid Center
Bertha Chen, MD – Gynecology
David Hovsepian, MD – Interventional Radiology
Deirdre Lum, MD – Gynecology
Gloria Hwang, MD – Interventional Radiology
David Wang, MD – Interventional Radiology
Stanford Neurosciences
Casey Halpern, MD – Neurosurgery
Jaimie Henderson, MD – Neurosurgery
Veronica Santini, MD – Neurology
Suzanne Tharin, MD, PhD – Neurosurgery
John Ratliff, MD – Neurosurgery
Max Wintermark, MD – Neuroradiology
Raag Airan, MD, PhD – Neuroradiology
Samuel Cheshier, MD, PhD – Neurosurgery
Gerald Grant, MD – Neurosurgery
Gordon Li, MD – Neurosurgery
Melanie Hayden Gephart, MD – Neurosurgery
Paul Buckmaster, DVM, PhD – Neurology
Seema Nagpal, MD – Neuro-oncology
Mahendra Bhati, MD – Psychiatry
Soft Tissue Tumors
Raffi Avedian, MD – Orthopaedic Surgery
Kristen Ganjoo, MD – Oncology
Lynn Million, MD – Radiation Oncology
David Hovsepian, MD – Interventional Radiology
Matthew Lungren, MD – Interventional Radiology
David Mohler, MD – Orthopaedic Surgery
Avnesh Thakor, MD, PhD – Interventional Radiology
Bone Metastases and Benign Bone Tumors
Patrick Swift, MD – Radiation Oncology
Kavitha Ramchandran, MD – Oncology and Palliative Medicine
Nishita Kothary, MD – Interventional Radiology
Matthew Lungren, MD – Interventional Radiology
Prostate Cancer
Geoffrey Sonn, MD – Urology
James Brooks, MD – Urology
Richard Fan, PhD – Urology
Bruce Daniel, MD – Radiology
Radiological Science Laboratories/Lucas Center for Imaging/MR Systems Research Lab
Brian Hargreaves, PhD
Jennifer McNab, PhD
Brian Rutt, PhD
John Pauly, PhD
Rachelle Bitton, PhD
The Foundation’s Center of Excellence designation recognizes the leadership and achievements of select luminary sites. The Centers are partnerships between academia, industry, and the Foundation that serve as hubs for collaboration and help to establish standards for research, training, and patient care.
Previous Coverage
Research Site Profile “Stanford Leading Focused Ultrasound Innovation in Research and Clinical Treatment” May 2015
Providing a Multi-Indication MR Imaging Guided Focused Ultrasound Service December 2015