July 29, 2021 - Glioblastoma Patient: “I’m Grateful for Focused Ultrasound Trial” - and more news

July 29, 2021 IN THIS ISSUE Top News | Foundation News | Research News | Industry News | Webinars | Events     Glioblastoma Patient Grateful for Focused Ultrasound Trial In March, Barbara was diagnosed with an aggressive malignant brain tumor called a glioblastoma. She was the first patient to be treated in a focused ultrasound clinical trial at the University of Virginia. Read Barbara’s story and learn about her hopes for how focused ultrasound could affect her future and that of countless others. READ HER STORY >  Foundation News Register Now for a Webinar on Focused Ultrasound Reimbursement Join us Wednesday, August 11, at 11:00am Eastern for a presentation entitled, "The Pathway to Getting Paid for New Medical Technology in the US.” The Foundation’s senior consultant, Mark Carol, MD, will address regulatory and reimbursement pathways to commercialization for technologies like focused ultrasound.​​​​​​ REGISTER NOW >  Foundation Hosts Roundtable on Blood-Brain Barrier Opening The meeting covered methods for confirming and quantifying drug/therapeutic delivery following blood-brain barrier opening. Representatives from the Foundation and focused ultrasound experts from five leading institutions participated. A follow-up consortium will further address the topic. READ MORE >  21st Century Cures 2.0: Accelerating Medical Innovation for Patients The Foundation supports the modernization of our healthcare policies to drive innovative medical technologies and improve patient outcomes. We submitted a letter of support for the recent 21st Century Cures 2.0 discussion draft. READ OUR LETTER OF SUPPORT >  Research News 2021 State of the Field Report Now Available The Foundation surveys stakeholders to assess the global field of focused ultrasound for our State of the Field Report. The report provides an in-depth analysis of many aspects of the technology, including mechanisms of action, industry trends, regulatory approvals, and investments. READ THE REPORT >  Sonodynamic Therapy Studies Show Safety, Provide Review for this Novel Glioma Treatment Sonodynamic therapy (SDT) uses focused ultrasound to activate compounds called sonosensitizers, which then produce a local cytotoxic effect. Researchers recently published a preclinical safety study and a review of the technology as used in gliomas.  A first-in-human clinical trial using SDT to treat glioblastoma is ongoing in Arizona. READ MORE > Dutch Brain Foundation Announces €1.6 Million Funding for Focused Ultrasound Research The Dutch Brain Foundation has received €1.6 million from the Piet Poortman Fund to investigate blood-brain barrier opening using focused ultrasound. The funds will support research to help patients with brain tumors, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and other brain disorders. The Strong and Positive Foundation – whose mission is to make brain tumors curable – is closely involved in the project. READ THE PRESS RELEASE* >  *The page is in Dutch, but Google translation is available. Employment Opportunities Available in the Focused Ultrasound Community The Foundation curates a hub of available positions within the international focused ultrasound community. See nearly 20 positions on our job board. Please submit any relevant opportunities at your organization. VIEW AND SUBMIT OPEN POSITIONS >  Visit our free, online research library of focused ultrasound publications.   More Research News Mapping Microbubble Distribution in the Brain | Physics World Biomedical Engineering Graduate Student Receives Grant to Advance Research in Cancer Treatment | Virginia Tech Metal-Based Molecules Show Promise Against the Build-up of Alzheimer’s Peptides | Imperial College London Low-Intensity Focused Ultrasound May Safely, Effectively Treat Chemo-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy | Clinical Pain Advisor Magnetic Field from MRI Affects Focused-Ultrasound-Mediated Blood-brain Barrier | Science Daily Celsion GmbH Announces Commencement of Enrollment in Oxford University’s Phase 1 Study with ThermoDox® and Focused Ultrasound in Pancreatic Cancer | BioSpace Industry News HistoSonics Announces New Procedure Code for Liver Treatment  The American Medical Association has issued a new Current Procedural Terminology (CPT®) procedure code for histotripsy of the liver. The code is the first for histotripsy-based focused ultrasound. HistoSonics is conducting clinical trials in the US and Europe to investigate its platform’s ability to destroy liver tumors. READ MORE >  Cardiawave Selected for Top 50 Medtech Startup Accelerator Cardiawave will participate in MedTech Innovator’s Showcase and Accelerator program. MedTech Innovator is the largest accelerator of medical device companies in the world. Based in France, Cardiawave is a focused ultrasound company aiming to reduce aortic valve stenosis caused by calcification. READ MORE >  Insightec Announces Approval for Exablate Neuro in Singapore The Health Sciences Authority in Singapore has approved Insightec’s Exablate Neuro device. Exablate Neuro is a focused ultrasound device used to treat essential tremor or tremor-dominant Parkinson’s disease. The company is working with a leading medical technology distributor in Southeast Asia to advance adoption of the device in the Singapore market. READ THE PRESS RELEASE >  Focused Ultrasound Intellectual Property Update: Second Quarter 2021 Three new US patents related to focused ultrasound were issued in the past quarter. The Foundation tracks recent patents issued and new patent applications filed with the US Patent Office related to the field. SEE THE LIST >  More Industry News Huons to Supply Focused Ultrasound MRI to SMC | Korea Biomedical Review Webinars Breakthrough Device Designation: Understanding Regulatory and Reimbursement Implications Webinar Wednesday, August 4, 2021, at 12:00 pm Eastern This webinar will focus on the FDA Breakthrough Devices Program and best practices for participation. The event is hosted by AdvaMed, and registration is free for AdvaMed members and government employees. LEARN MORE AND REGISTER > The Pathway to Getting Paid for New Medical Technology in the US Wednesday, August 11, 2021, at 11:00 am Eastern Presented by Mark Carol, MD, Senior Consultant at the Focused Ultrasound Foundation Hosted by the Focused Ultrasound Foundation LEARN MORE AND REGISTER > Do you have news for our newsletter? Tell us about it!   Upcoming Events September 7-10, 2021 iTRUSST's 2nd Focused Ultrasound Neuromodulation (FUN) Symposium | VIRTUAL MEETING ​​​​​ September 11-16, 2021 IEEE IUS International Ultrasonics Symposium 2021 | VIRTUAL MEETING ​​​​​ September 25-26, 2021 European Association of Neuro-Oncology (EANO) Annual Meeting 2021| VIRTUAL MEETING ​​​​ September 25-28, 2021 Cardiovascular and Interventional Radiological Society of Europe (CIRSE) 2021| VIRTUAL MEETING ​​​​ September 27-30, 2021 AdvaMed The Digital MedTech Conference 2021| Washington, DC, Minneapolis, MN, and VIRTUAL  October 4-5, 2021 IEEE Latin America Ultrasonics Symposium | VIRTUAL MEETING ​​​​ October 15-16, 2021 2021 AANS/CNS Tumor Section Satellite Symposium, Austin, TX November 18-21, 2021 26th Annual Meeting and Education Day of the Society for Neuro-Oncology, Boston, MA