Key Points
- During a recent meeting, several senators and NIH directors discussed research innovations, including focused ultrasound.
- Language on the use of focused ultrasound by the US Department of Veterans Affairs was also included in a 2024 appropriations bill.
NIH Budget Hearing Highlights Focused Ultrasound
On May 23, the US Senate Appropriations subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies held a hearing on the fiscal year (FY) 2025 budget for the National Institutes of Health (NIH). During that discussion, several senators, the NIH Director, and directors of several NIH Institutes and Centers (ICs) highlighted research innovations funded by NIH, including focused ultrasound. There was a more than three-minute exchange between Senator Shelley Moore Capito of West Virginia and Nora Volkow, MD, director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse, and Richard Hodes, MD, director of the National Institute on Aging, about the use of focused ultrasound for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease and addiction at West Virginia University (WVU) Rockefeller Neuroscience Institute. Each speaker was enthusiastic about the potential of this ongoing clinical research.
“The Foundation has been engaged with Senator Capito’s staff about focused ultrasound, and we are pleased she has become a champion for the technology,” said Jessica Foley, PhD, the Foundation’s chief scientific officer and managing director of government affairs. “We thank her for highlighting the work of Dr. Ali Rezai and his team at WVU in this important hearing and for raising awareness about focused ultrasound.”
The Importance of Cross-Institute Collaboration Within NIH
NIH support is critical to the advancement of innovative new applications of focused ultrasound. Although there are currently 16 different NIH ICs funding research in the field, there is no formal cross-institute coordination or data sharing at NIH. Therefore, the Foundation is now urging members of Congress to support our FY 2025 appropriations request, which would direct NIH to convene an annual symposium on focused ultrasound and to form a cross-institute focused ultrasound research group to ensure coordination across its ICs. Enhanced collaboration would enhance the quality of NIH-funded focused ultrasound research and amplify its potential impact on patients.
US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Encouraged to Adopt Focused Ultrasound
The recognition at a Congressional hearing comes on the heels of another important win for focused ultrasound. Congress recently concluded the appropriations process for FY 2024. Rather than one omnibus, the process included two ‘minibus’ packages that each included six appropriations bills. The first full year “minibus” was signed by the President and became law on March 9, 2024. This $460 billion appropriations bill funded a subset of federal departments and agencies including the VA.
The Foundation, with our partners G2G Consulting, advocated for language on focused ultrasound to be included with the FY 2024 appropriations bill to encourage uptake of focused ultrasound by the VA. We are pleased to share that focused ultrasound-specific language was included in the final reports for both House and Senate as shown below.
FY 2024 House MilCon-VA Appropriations Report (House Report 118-122)
“Focused Ultrasound Therapy—The Committee understands focused ultrasound is a non-invasive, non-pharmacological, safe, and cost-effective alternative or complement to conventional surgery, radiation therapy, or drug-based treatments and encourages the Department to ensure it is available to veterans to the extent practicable.”
FY 2024 Senate MilCon-VA Appropriations Report (Senate Report 118-43)
“Focused Ultrasound Therapy—The Committee encourages VA to conduct a study into the feasibility and advisability of utilizing non-invasive Focus Ultrasound Therapy to treat certain conditions such as Parkinson’s disease, essential tremors, prostate cancer, fibroids, and other medical conditions. Within 1 year of enactment of this act, the Department is directed to report to the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress on the findings of this study, which should consider clinical and other stakeholder partnerships and detail any barriers or obstacles the Department might face in conducting proactive research on focused ultrasound therapy.”
The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2024 became Public Law 118-42 on March 9, 2024. Therefore, the focused ultrasound therapy sections above should be complied with, and the report required under Senate Report 118-43 is due within one year of enactment (by March 9, 2025).
“Including focused ultrasound in this law validates the technology among key Congressional and other government stakeholders, and highlights its potential to improve veterans’ lives,” said Dr. Foley. “Among focused ultrasound’s more than 180 potential clinical applications, many are prevalent in our veterans and servicemembers including pain, depression, addiction, post-traumatic stress disorder, and others. And, of course, many veterans also suffer from conditions like uterine fibroids, Parkinson’s disease, and prostate cancer, which have already been cleared by FDA. Those who have given so much to our country should be able to benefit from the most innovative and advanced treatments – such as focused ultrasound.”
These efforts are just a part of the Foundation’s robust Advocacy and Government Affairs Program. You can find more info about the program here, and if you are interested in joining our advocacy efforts, please contact Jessica Foley, PhD, at jfoley@fusfoundation.org