February 11, 2022 - New Breast Cancer Immunotherapy Clinical Trial - and more news

Researchers at the University of Virginia treated the first patient...                   February 11, 2022 IN THIS ISSUE Top News | Foundation News | Patient News | Research News Industry News | Webinars | Events     New Focused Ultrasound Immunotherapy Clinical Trial for Breast Cancer Launched at University of Virginia The first patient has been treated in a clinical trial at the University of Virginia exploring focused ultrasound-induced immune responses. Researchers will assess the effect of focused ultrasound plus a chemotherapy drug on patients with early-stage breast cancer. This trial is being supported in part by the Focused Ultrasound Foundation and the Commonwealth of Virginia. READ MORE > Foundation News Register for Virtual Congressional Briefing The Foundation's virtual Congressional briefing will address how focused ultrasound is improving patient care and lowering costs.  Patients and experts will discuss the technology and the importance of increasing government research funding.   Others in the focused ultrasound community are invited to listen in February 22 at 1:00 pm Eastern.  REGISTER NOW > Elisa Konofagou, PhD, Named 2022 Symposium President Dr. Konofagou is the Robert and Margaret Hariri Professor of Biomedical Engineering and Professor of Radiology at Columbia University.  She is an expert in using focused ultrasound for blood-brain barrier opening to treat neurological disorders.   The 8th International Symposium on Focused Ultrasound will take place October 23-28 in Bethesda, Maryland.  READ MORE > Foundation Debuts New Initiative “At a Glance” Webpages The Foundation has identified four key initiatives where focused ultrasound could significantly impact patient care. Learn about our activities in cancer immunotherapy, brain disorders, pediatrics, and veterinary medicine.  Each page includes webinars, workshops, key partnerships, and funding opportunities.  LEARN MORE > Patient News California Site is First to Offer Commercial Exablate Prostate Treatment Stanford Health Care has treated the first commercial US patient using Insightec's Exablate Prostate system. The system received 510(k) FDA clearance in November 2021 to ablate prostate tissue. The single-session treatment is performed with MRI guidance. READ INSIGHTEC’S PRESS RELEASE >  Monaco Hospital Now Using Focused Ultrasound to Treat Uterine Fibroid Patients Princess Grace Hospital has installed Profound Medical’s Sonalleve focused ultrasound device to treat uterine fibroids. The site held a ceremony to commemorate the opening with special guest Prince Albert II. WATCH THE VIDEO COVERAGE* >  *In French. More Patient News Gauteng Hospital Bids Farewell to Doctor who Helped Women with Fibroids Become Moms | South Africa News 24 Medical Expert Implores Women with Uterine Fibroid to Embrace Non-invasive Treatment | This Day Live (Nigeria) Research News American Academy of Pediatrics Publishes Article on Focused Ultrasound for Pediatric Diseases A comprehensive review article on focused ultrasound for pediatric diseases has been published in Pediatrics. The article covers 10 clinical trials addressing cancer, neurologic, vascular, and musculoskeletal pediatric diseases. The journal is one of the top 100 most-cited journals in science and medicine. READ MORE >  A Window to the Brain: Sonolucent Prosthesis for Transcranial Ultrasound A collaborative research team developed a novel device for treating patients with brain tumors. The artificial acoustic window is made from a plastic material that is designed specifically to transmit ultrasound energy. The device could be used for new ultrasound-guided therapeutic applications, including focused ultrasound. READ MORE >  Apply for Science & PINS Prize for Neuromodulation The award recognizes innovative research that modulates neural activity through physical stimulation of targeted sites in the nervous system. The recipient receives $25,000 and publication of his or her essay in Science. Applications for the annual award are due by April 15. LEARN MORE >  SonALAsense and Sonodynamic Therapy Featured in Forbes Forbes recently interviewed Dr. Stuart Marcus, the founder and CEO of SonALAsense. The company is developing sonodynamic therapy for the treatment of deadly brain cancers. Sonodynamic therapy uses focused ultrasound to activate cell-killing molecules that naturally accumulate in brain tumors. READ THE ARTICLE >  Visit our free, online research library of focused ultrasound publications.   More Research News Focused Ultrasound Investigated for Alzheimer's Disease | Technology Networks Researchers from the Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology Propose Ultrasound Stimulation as an Effective Therapy for Alzheimer's Disease in New Study | Cision PR Newswire Emerging HIFU Technology Shows Promise in Men with Prostate Cancer | Urology Times Industry News Watch Now: Clinical Indication Selection Through the Eyes of an Investor Erich Scheller, PhD, Director of RA Capital's TechAtlas, discusses how RA Capital chooses indications and pursues investments as a leading venture investor in today’s markets.  The webinar was hosted by the Foundation’s FUS Partners program. WATCH THE RECORDING > Companies Report Positive Year End Sales Results, Goals for 2022 Theraclion’s overall sales doubled in the last year, and the company outlined major initiatives for the new year, including investing in artificial intelligence.   EDAP recorded a 65 percent increase in US prostate treatments last year and hopes to complete a clinical trial for deep rectal endometriosis in 2022. READ THE THERACLION PRESS RELEASE > READ THE EDAP PRESS RELEASE > Leadership Changes in Focused Ultrasound Industry Theraclion has appointed seasoned French executive Yann Duchesne as executive chairman after the tragic death of Christopher Bödtker in December.  Microvascular Therapeutics (MVT) has announced that Shiv Kapoor will join its Board of Directors, lending his experience in business strategy, finance, and investor relations. READ THE THERACLION PRESS RELEASE > READ THE MVT PRESS RELEASE > More Industry News MRI Guided Focused Ultrasound System Uses Sound Waves to Ablate Prostate Tissue without Incision | HospiMedica.com Webinars New Generation Nanobubbles: The Smaller the Better? Friday, February 25, at 1:00 am Eastern Presented by Professor Katsuro Tachibana, MD, PhD Hosted by the International Society for Therapeutic Ultrasound LEARN MORE AND REGISTER > Recent Webinar Recordings & Podcasts Clinical Indication Selection Through the Eyes of an Investor | Presented by Erich Scheller, PhD, Director of RA Capital's TechAtlas | Hosted by the Focused Ultrasound Foundation’s FUS Partners program (50 minutes) Sonodynamic Therapy: Concepts, Mechanisms of Action and Application to Brain Tumors | Presented by Francesco Prada, MD | Hosted by the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine as part of the Miami Global Brain Tumor Symposium (58 minutes) The Future of Ultrasound and Cancer Therapy | Doctors Are People Too Podcast | Presented by Natasha Sheybani, PhD (47 minutes) Do you have news for our newsletter? Tell us about it!   Upcoming Events Upcoming Abstract Submission Deadlines The Society for Thermal Medicine (STM) will hold its 2022 Virtual Annual Meeting May 1-4. Registration is open, and the deadline for abstract submission has been extended until February 14. The 15th International Stereotactic Radiosurgery Society (ISRS) Congress will convene June 19-23 in Milan, Italy. Abstracts are due February 14.  The 21st Annual International Symposium on Therapeutic Ultrasound (ISTU) will take place both virtually and in-person in Toronto, Canada, June 7-10. Registration is open, and abstracts are due February 15.   March 2-6, 2022 European Congress of Radiology (ECR) | VIRTUAL EVENT  March 12-16, 2022 American Institute for Ultrasound in Medicine (AIUM), San Diego, CA May 1-4, 2022 Society for Thermal Medicine (STM) 2022 Virtual Annual Meeting | VIRTUAL EVENT  May 5, 2022 Focused Ultrasound Non-invasive Neurosurgery Congress (FUNNC-2022) | VIRTUAL EVENT  June 7-10, 2022 21st Annual International Symposium on Therapeutic Ultrasound (ISTU), Toronto, Canada and VIRTUAL June 19-23, 2022 15th International Stereotactic Radiosurgery Society (ISRS) Congress, Milan, Italy