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| FUSF Newsletter |
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| Volume 54 | April 2013 |
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SPECIAL REPORT:
Saluting the "First 15"
FOUNDATION NEWS:
INDUSTRY NEWS
SITE NEWS:
MEDIA COVERAGE:
EVENTS:
Save the Date
Call for Abstracts
Meetings
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SPECIAL REPORT: Saluting the "First 15" |
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Diane Huss, PhD, who performed neurologic assessments throughout the pilot essential tremor study at the University of Virginia, describes the personal goals patients set before treatment.
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| ET patients set and met goals for their focused ultrasound treatment |
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The 15 patients who enrolled in the Focused Ultrasound Foundation-funded essential tremor (ET) study at the University of Virginia are true medical pioneers. Prior to their focused ultrasound treatment, most had lived with ET for decades. All had become severely disabled by it. Each believed they had run out of viable treatment options until learning about the promise and possibilities of focused ultrasound. Bravely stepping forward to join the study, each identified three outcomes they wanted to experience.
VIEW VIDEO AND READ MORE ► |
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Billy R. Williams is shown moments before his first-in-the-world focused ultrasound treatment began.
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| Proud to be #1: Billy R. Williams |
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One of Billy R. Williams' most cherished possessions is a photo album chronicling the day he made medical history by becoming the first person in the world to undergo focused ultrasound treatment for essential tremor. "I always wanted to be Number 1 at something, and this was it," he says of his participation in the Focused Ultrasound Foundation-funded essential tremor study at the University of Virginia. His treatment experience, which has been reported in print and video interviews, has inspired thousands and offered new hope to others in the essential tremor community.
READ MORE ► |
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The "First 15" event in April 2012 honored the pioneering patients who participated in the ET study at UVA.
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| Pioneering patients tell the world about their focused ultrasound treatment |
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Many of the 15 patients who participated in the Focused Ultrasound Foundation-funded essential tremor pilot study at the University of Virginia have stepped forward to share their story with the news media. By doing so, they have added a new dimension to the role that patient participants play in advancing a promising new medical technology. Their courage and their stories have touched people around the world and spurred interest in the use of noninvasive sound waves instead of scalpels to treat brain disorders.
READ MORE ► |
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| FUS FOR ET: What's next? |
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Multi-center pivotal trial is planned
The encouraging results of the Focused Ultrasound Foundation-funded essential tremor Phase I clinical trial at the University of Virginia have led to planning for the next data-gathering step required for regulatory approval: a global, multi-site pivotal Phase III study to evaluate the safety and efficacy of focused ultrasound in treating essential tremor. Device maker InSightec, Ltd., which is sponsoring the study, has obtained FDA approval for a double-arm protocol and expects as many as eight sites on three continents and 72 patients to participate.
READ MORE ► |
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| Foundation issues Winter 2013 Progress Report |
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The Focused Ultrasound Foundation recently issued a new progress report, providing an inspiring overview of the accomplishments being made in the field of focused ultrasound. In his Chairman's Message, Neal F. Kassell, MD asserts, "The revolution has begun, and we are at the magic moment where the actions we take have the potential to improve the lives of millions worldwide."
READ REPORT ► |
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| Distinguished academician and athlete Robert Khayat joins Foundation Council |
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Robert Khayat, a man who has distinguished himself in the world of higher education and professional sports, has joined the Focused Ultrasound Foundation Council. The multi-talented Khayat served as Chancellor and law professor at the University of Mississippi and as President of the NCAA Foundation. He was also an All-Pro Kicker for the Washington Redskins.
READ MORE ► |
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| Foundation Council Welcomes Professor Shirley Lin |
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Professor Syaru Shirley Lin, who serves on the faculty of Social Science at the Chinese University of Hong Kong and is a former partner at Goldman Sachs, brings a unique perspective to the Focused Ultrasound Foundation Council. Her extensive academic and financial experience in Asia will be invaluable to the Foundation's global awareness-building and fundraising activities.
READ MORE ► |
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| Foley spotlighted by FasterCures |
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On Friday, March 23, FasterCures featured the Focused Ultrasound Foundation's Scientific Director, Jessica Foley, PhD, in its Time=Lives video interview of the week. Taped during last year's Celebration of Science, Foley talked about her vision for future generations of scientists and researchers and discussed the challenges they may face with today's economic shortcomings. She also emphasized the need to elevate the role of science in our society so we can attract and engage tomorrow's innovators.
VIEW INTERVIEW ► |
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| Report on Therapeutic Ultrasound Winter School |
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The 4th Therapeutic Ultrasound Winter School at the University of Grenoble's École de Physique in France drew 71 attendees, of whom 16 were faculty. Industry, clinical medicine, physics and engineering were all represented. The Focused Ultrasound Foundation was a sponsor of the school. Jean-Francois (Jeff) Aubry, PhD and Gail ter Haar, PhD, DSC served on its faculty and provide a first-hand report of the program.
READ REPORT► |
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| Medicare to cover InSightec's focused ultrasound therapy for bone mets pain |
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In an April 18 press release, InSightec announced that the U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has created a new billing code and established a Medicare payment rate for MR-guided focused ultrasound treatment of pain related to metastatic bone lesions. InSightec's ExAblate system is the only MR-guided focused ultrasound device cleared by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for the palliation of bone tumor pain.
READ RELEASE ► |
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| Hospital for Sick Children exploring pediatric applications of focused ultrasound |
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When James Drake, MD submitted his proposal for a "Chase an Idea" grant, pediatric focused ultrasound was the idea he wanted to chase. Drake, the chief of neurosurgery at the Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) in Toronto, Canada, understood the potential of focused ultrasound and is now researching its use in treating children afflicted by bone tumors, stroke and epilepsy.
READ MORE ► |
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| University of Chicago now a uterine fibroid study site |
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The University of Chicago has become the fourth site participating in a Phase II/III study assessing the safety and efficacy of the Sonalleve MR-guided focused ultrasound system manufactured by Philips Healthcare. The study is enrolling women between 18 and 50 years old who have symptomatic uterine fibroids.
READ MORE ► |
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| Italian bone tumor patients discuss their focused ultrasound treatment in Youtube videos |
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Three patients treated for osteoid osteoma (benign bone tumor) at LaSapienza University Hospital and S. Salvatore Hospital in Italy share their stories.
VIEW VIDEO ► |
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| MR-Guided Ultrasound Safe, Effective for Fibroid Ablation – Published on March 22, 2013 by Medscape News Today, this article summarizes the study data presented at the European Congress of Radiology by Matthias Matzko, MD, of the University of Munich in Germany. Study results were also published online February 4 in Investigative Radiology. |
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| Focused on a cure: Kassell's ultrasound vision – Published by The Hook on March 28, this interview with Neal Kassell, MD, describes the creation and goals of the Focused Ultrasound Foundation. |
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SAVE THE DATE
October 10-11, 2013
2nd European Symposium on Focused Ultrasound Therapy, Rome, Italy
The symposium program will include scientific presentations and invited lectures on technological, pre-clinical and clinical applications of MR-guided focused ultrasound. Other aspects of the meeting will include lively group discussions, a poster session, walking tours and learning workshops devoted to clinical, technical, regulatory and reimbursement topics.
EARLY REGISTRATION AND MORE INFORMATION ►
CALL FOR ABSTRACTS
September 5-7, 2013
25th Conference of the International Society for Medical Innovation and Technology (SMIT), Baden-Baden, Germany. Abstract deadline: May 31, 2013
MEETINGS
May 6
Uterine Fibroids Symposium, New Orleans, USA
On May 6, the Focused Ultrasound Foundation and its industry partners, InSightec, Ltd. and Philips Healthcare, will host a special symposium for clinicians. It will introduce the new RELIEF registry for uterine fibroid patients treated with focused ultrasound. Symposium topics will include patient needs, the role of focused ultrasound as a noninvasive treatment, and the goals and purpose of the RELIEF registry.
The symposium will be held in conjunction with the 61st Annual Clinical Meeting of the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) from May 4-8 in New Orleans.
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| May 12-15, 2013 |
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13th International Symposium on Therapeutic Ultrasound, Shanghai, China
Experts from around the world will lecture on some of the most exciting developments in therapeutic ultrasound. Invited speakers are:
Gail ter Haar, DSc - opening session plenary lecture
Alfred Yu, PhD - Sonoporation
Arik Hananel, MD - Advances in MR-guided brain therapies
Hao-Li Liu, PhD - Ultrasound drug delivery through brain blood barrier
Jongbum Seo, PhD - Ultrasound-mediated drug delivery
Mathieu Pernot, PhD - Monitoring of ultrasonic cardiac therapy using ultrafast imaging
Young-Sun Kim, MD - HIFU in clinical application
Yufeng Zhou, PhD - Variation of bubble cavitation and temperature elevation during acculysis
Cyril Lafon, PhD - Novel new devices and recent technology advances
Joo Ha Hwang, MD - Animal models for preclinical HIFU research
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May 23–24, 2013
First Course on Focused Ultrasound in Research and Therapy, Istituto Nazionale di Ricerca Metrologica (INRIM), Turin, Italy
For more information about this program, which is being organized by the Italian Association of Medical Physics (AIFM), contact Gianni Borasi.
May 29–June 1, 2013
Interventional Oncology Sans Frontières (IOSF) "Creativity, Novelty and Clinical Excellence," Cernobbio, Italy
The IOSF Congress is targeted to interventional radiologists, diagnostic radiologists, medical oncologists, hepatologists, surgical oncologists, radiation oncologists, urologists, clinical researchers and other healthcare professionals interested in the field of Interventional Oncology. On Saturday, June 1, Professor Carlo Catalano of the University of Roma La Sapienza will present a featured lecture, "MR-guided focused ultrasound: a new era in intervention?"
July 13-14, 2013
The 1st Yangtze International Summit of Minimally-invasive and Noninvasive Medicine, Chongqing, China
Organized as a follow-up to the 1st International Summit of Non-Invasive Ultrasound Treatment in 2009, the Yangtze International Summit will cover topics such as radiofrequency ablation (RFA), transcatheter arterial embolization/ transcatheter arterial chemo-embolization (TAE/TACE) and HIFU therapy, including HIFU treatment for uterine fibroids and adenomyosis, liver, pancreatic cancer, bone tumors, et al. Discussions will include the formation of a professional society and promotional strategies. The summit is accepting abstracts for clinical and basic research using HIFU and ultrasound therapy for tumor and non-tumor diseases.
For more information about this program, contact Nick Yin of Chongqing Haifu Medical Technology Co., Ltd.
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Focused Ultrasound Foundation | 1230 Cedars Court, Suite F | Charlottesville VA | 22902
Questions and comments about this newsletter should be sent to Ellen C. McKenna (emckenna@fusfoundation.org) |
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