January 14, 2021 - UMC Utrecht Named Center of Excellence - and more news

Join us for a virtual opening event Tuesday.                    January 14, 2021 IN THIS ISSUE Top News | Foundation News | Patient News | Research News  Industry News | Webinars | Events     University Medical Center Utrecht Named Focused Ultrasound Center of Excellence The Foundation has designated the University Medical Center Utrecht in the Netherlands as the latest Focused Ultrasound Center of Excellence. Please join us for a virtual opening event on Tuesday, January 19, at 9:00 am Eastern to learn about this dynamic center’s diverse research projects.    READ MORE >  REGISTER FOR THE OPENING EVENT >   Landmark Clinical Trial Shows Focused Ultrasound to be a Safe and Effective Treatment for the Cardinal Features of Parkinson’s Disease A novel pivotal trial validating the use of focused ultrasound to treat the cardinal features of Parkinson’s disease has been published in the New England Journal of Medicine.     READ MORE >  Foundation News Join Us Today for a Discussion Inspired by the Film “Picture a Scientist” Today at 1:00 pm Eastern, women leaders in focused ultrasound will reflect on the documentary, their experiences, and how to bring more equity and diversity to the field. All are encouraged to attend. READ MORE AND REGISTER > Smith Foundation Fund Established for Focused Ultrasound Treatment of Neurodegenerative Disorders The Eddie and Jo Allison Smith Foundation Fund for Focused Ultrasound Treatment of Neurodegenerative Disorders will support research for disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s, ALS, and Huntington’s. READ MORE > Focused Ultrasound for Uterine Fibroids: Foundation and AIUM Partner on Webinar In a webinar from the Foundation and the American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine, Suzanne LeBlang, MD, discussed the noninvasive treatment and compared MR- and US-guided procedures.   WATCH THE RECORDING > New Year Message from the Foundation Our Chairman reflects on the challenges and successes of 2020 and wishes everyone happiness and health in 2021.  READ THE LETTER > Patient News Clinical Trial to Treat Glioblastoma using Focused Ultrasound and Sonodynamic Therapy Now Recruiting Patients A new clinical trial is investigating using focused ultrasound to treat glioblastoma by activating a drug to cause tumor cell death. The trial is being conducted at the Ivy Brain Tumor Center within the Barrow Neurological Institute in Phoenix, Arizona. Patients who are interested in learning more should contact (602) 406-8605 or research@ivybraintumorcenter.org.    READ THE PRESS RELEASE > Device Manufacturer EDAP Explains New Payment Code for Prostate Treatment Hugo Embert, EDAP’s Chief Marketing Officer, and two physicians discuss the impact of the CPT® Category I code on insurance coverage for focused ultrasound treatment of the prostate.   WATCH NOW > Focused Ultrasound Amid the Pandemic: Manufacturer Shares its Response Marc Oczachowski, EDAP’s Chairman and CEO, and two physicians discuss their efforts to keep patients safe during focused ultrasound prostate procedures.    WATCH NOW > More Patient News MJFF Announces 5 Parkinson’s Clinical Trials in Need of Recruits | Parkinson’s News Today Research News CarThera Launches New Glioblastoma Trial in Chicago The first patient has been treated in a new phase I/II clinical trial for patients with recurrent glioblastoma. Researchers at Northwestern University are testing CarThera’s SonoCloud-9 device in combination with chemotherapy.  READ MORE > Uterine Fibroids: A Novel Approach to Treating with Focused Ultrasound A team at Seoul National University evaluated a new approach – and a new device – for using focused ultrasound to treat uterine fibroids. READ MORE > Focused Ultrasound for Brain Disorders Chosen for Cover of Nature Reviews Neurology A focused ultrasound review paper is the cover story of Nature Reviews Neurology’s January 2021 issue. The comprehensive brain treatment overview by a team in Toronto was originally published online in October 2020.  SEE THE ISSUE >  Visit our free, online research library of focused ultrasound publications. *Login required   More Research News Researchers Develop Non-invasive Cure for Cerebral Stroke | Korea Bizwire Parkinson’s Motor Symptoms Improve with Focused Ultrasound | Medpage Today Focused Ultrasound Thalamotomy Improves Motor Symptoms In Parkinson’s Disease | Medical Dialogues Ultrasound Ablation for PD: Benefit Limited by Adverse Effects | Medscape Focused Ultrasound Shows Promise for Parkinson’s Disease | UVA Health Industry News CMS Grants Immediate Medicare Coverage for FDA-Approved Breakthrough Devices   The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has issued a final rule that provides immediate national Medicare coverage for four years for any new device or diagnostic designated as a breakthrough technology and approved by the US FDA. READ MORE > Insightec Partners with Philips to Expand Access to Focused Ultrasound for the Brain   The two companies have collaborated to develop compatibility between Philips’ advanced MR systems and Insightec’s Exablate Neuro platform to improve the patient and staff experience, enhance health outcomes, and lower the cost of care. READ MORE > New FDA Program Aims to Expedite Access to Safer Therapies   The US Food and Drug Administration introduced a new Safer Technologies Program (STeP) designed to facilitate patient access to innovative medical therapies. READ MORE > Profound Medical and GE Healthcare Collaborate to Broaden Availability of Prostate Treatment   The agreement will enable Profound to interface its TULSA-PRO® prostate system with certain GE Healthcare MRI scanners, thereby expanding access to both patients and physicians around the world. READ MORE > More Industry News Renewed Investor Confidence in Theraclion | Business Wire Cardiawave on the Way to CE Mark for its Pulsed Cavitational Ultrasound Therapy | BioWorld Webinars From Biology to Bytes: Predicting the Path of Ultrasound Waves Through the Human Brain The International Society for Therapeutic Ultrasound will host Bradley Treeby, Professor of Biomedical Ultrasound at the University College London, for its first webinar of the new year. Thursday, January 21, 2021 | 11:00 am Eastern LEARN MORE AND REGISTER > Recent Webinar Recordings "Focused Ultrasound Treatment of Uterine Fibroids: State of the Field" | Suzanne LeBlang, MD | Hosted by American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine (AIUM) and Focused Ultrasound Foundation Do you have news for our newsletter? Tell us about it!   Upcoming Events   January 14, 2021 “Picture a Scientist” Panel Discussion with Women in Focused Ultrasound | WEBINAR January 14-15, 2021 European Symposium on Ultrasound Contrast Imaging | VIRTUAL MEETING January 15-16, 2021 North American Neuromodulation Society (NANS) Annual Meeting | VIRTUAL MEETING January 19, 2021 Opening Event Announcing UMC Utrecht as Focused Ultrasound Center of Excellence ​​​​​​| WEBINAR January 21, 2021 From Biology to Bytes: Predicting the Path of Ultrasound Waves Through the Human Brain | Hosted by ISTU | WEBINAR  March 7-12, 2021 Winter School on Therapeutic Ultrasound | Les Houches, France March 20-26, 2021 Society of Interventional Radiology (SIR) Annual Meeting | VIRTUAL MEETING April 10-13, 2021 European Conference on Interventional Oncology (ECIO) 2021 | VIRTUAL MEETING April 11-14, 2021 Annual Integrative Ultrasound Meeting (AIUM) 2021, TBD June 6-9, 2021 International Society for Therapeutic Ultrasound (ISTU) 2021 | Gyeongju, Korea June 17-18, 2021 1st HIFUture Symposium | Lyon, France