Key Points
- This summer, the Foundation sponsored 15 global interns at 12 institutions across 5 countries.
- Read about the four projects that were ranked the highest by an internal review board.
The Foundation’s Global Internship Program provides high school and undergraduate university students with an opportunity to participate in focused ultrasound research. These summer internships connect students with an academic researcher or industry mentor at an international focused ultrasound site. Global internships are offered as part of the Foundation’s Dan and Lou Jordan Focused Ultrasound Internship Program.
This past summer, the Foundation sponsored 15 global interns at 12 institutions across 5 countries – England, France, Italy, South Korea, and the United States.
**Four of the 2024 global intern projects were deemed exceptional by an internal scientific review board. Click the title to read a summary of the project.
Max Au-Yeung
Mentor: Reza Haqshenas, PhD
Institution: University College London
Project Title: Exploring the Use of Active Cavitation Detection in the Live Characterization of Cavitation
Alexander Aviles Cruz
Mentor: Muna Aryal, PhD
Institution: North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University
Project Title: Ultrasound-Sensitive Hydrogel Formulation for Degenerative Joint Disease
Aditya Baishnob
Mentor: William N’Djin, PhD
Institution: Inserm LabTAU
Project Title: Characterizing a Biaxial Driven Ring FUS Transducer for Applications in Electrophysiology
**Elian Hines
Mentor: Nicholas Todd, PhD
Institution: Brigham and Women’s Hospital
Project Title: Understanding Mechanisms of AAV Transport: A Study on Focused Ultrasound Timing and Parameters
Daegan Kee
Mentor: Jinhyoung Park, PhD
Institution: Sungkyunkwan University
Project Title: Developing a Dual-Frequency Needle Ultrasonic Transducer for Cortical Network Study in Small Animal Brains
Milea Koster
Mentor: Steven Allen, PhD
Institution: Brigham Young University
Project Title: Creation of Tissue Mimicking Gel Phantoms and Identifying the Sound Attenuation Properties of an Iron-Oxide Nanoparticle Solution
Carrington Lea
Mentor: Muna Aryal, PhD
Institution: North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University
Project Title: Low-Intensity Ultrasound and Amyloid Beta Clearance: A Mathematical Model
Qiyixing (Ethan) Liu
Mentor: Sophie Morse, PhD
Institution: Imperial College London
Project Title: Stimulating the Brain’s Innate Immune Cells with Therapeutic Ultrasound
Thomas Lu
Mentor: Timothy Hall, PhD
Institution: University of Michigan
Project Title: Advancing Histrotripsy Systems to More Effectively Treat Soft Tissue Sarcoma and Osteosarcoma
**Varshini Packiyathasan
Mentor: Sophie Morse, PhD
Institution: Imperial College London
Project Title: Noninvasive Delivery of Cell-Penetrating Peptides Past the Blood-Brain Barrier Using Focused Ultrasound
**Edena Park
Mentor: Dong-Guk Paeng, PhD
Institution: Jeju National University
Project Title: Effect of Laser-Generated Focused Ultrasound on Parkinson’s Disease
**Isabel Quintana
Mentor: Eli Vlaisavljevich, PhD
Institution: Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Project Title: Investigation of Drug Release from Doxorubicin-Loaded Nanodroplets
Talia Sachs
Mentor: Elisa Konofagou, PhD
Institution: Columbia University
Project Title: Investigation of the Effect of Tissue Temperature on Muscle Action Potentials
Jang Sanghyeok
Mentor: Dong-Guk Paeng, PhD
Institution: Jeju National University
Project Title: Fabrication of a Wireless Ultrasonic Nerve Stimulation System
Nicolo Zaia
Mentor: Francesco Prada, MD
Institution: Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Neurologico Carlo Besta
Project Title: Ultrasound-Guided Blood-Brain Barrier Opening with a Diagnostic Probe in a Brain Model
Interested in a Global Internship?
The Foundation will issue a call for applications for the 2025 Global Interns in early next year.
Edena Park
Effect of Laser-Generated Focused Ultrasound on Parkinson’s Disease
The aim of this project was to identify the threshold of stable versus unstable cavitation during focused ultrasound blood-brain barrier opening (BBBO) in a mouse model of Parkinson’s disease (PD), because unstable cavitation can cause damage to brain cells. Focused ultrasound parameter experiments were first conducted in vitro, and then in vivo experiments were performed in a mouse model of PD where blue dye was injected intravenously to imitate a therapeutic agent. Focused ultrasound power and duration were modulated to determine parameter effects on cavitation and tissue. The in vivo portion of the project delivered negative results, in that BBBO did not appear to be achieved as there was no leakage of blue dye into the brain tissue of treated mice. However, this experiment set the stage for future studies, as these results can be used to narrow the parameter space for a safe, transient BBBO.
Isabel Quintana
Investigation of Drug Release from Doxorubicin-Loaded Nanodroplets
Nanoparticle-mediated histotripsy (NMH) is a method of drug delivery that is being developed as a potential treatment for metastatic breast cancer, specifically in conjunction with the chemotherapy drug doxorubicin in the form of nanodroplets. To use these nanodroplets in NMH treatments, an adequate buffer solution must be used. This project focused on testing and optimizing different buffer solutions. To determine this, the researchers created nanodroplets and measured their release of doxorubicin in various treatment buffers. The 1:1 DMSO:PBS pH 7.4 buffer had the highest release at 100% and was concluded to be the buffer of choice for dispersion of doxorubicin by manufacturers. Future work will build on these results by testing the doxorubicin-loaded nanodroplets with NMH in breast cancer cells and murine models.
Varshini Packiyathasan
Noninvasive Delivery of Cell-Penetrating Peptides Past the Blood-Brain Barrier Using Focused Ultrasound
Cell-penetrating peptides (CPPs) are small peptides that facilitate the cellular uptake of molecules. The aim of this study was to assess whether focused ultrasound blood-brain barrier (BBB) opening enhanced the delivery of the CPP called TD2.2. To assess the efficacy of BBB opening to enhance delivery of TD2.2 in the brain, an optimized version of Olig2 staining and fluorescence microscopy were employed. Based on the average fluorescence intensity per organ, it was determined that the use of focused ultrasound significantly enhanced the delivery of TD2.2 across the BBB, particularly in the hippocampus. Future research will be able to utilize the optimized Olig2 staining for a more accurate imaging process in non-invasive therapeutic interventions.
Eli Hines
Understanding Mechanisms of AAV Transport: A Study on Focused Ultrasound Timing and Parameters
Opening the blood-brain barrier with focused ultrasound allows for delivery of adeno-associated viral vectors (AAVs) as a promising gene therapy treatment. Although possible, the mechanisms and optimal parameters for delivery are unclear and require more research. Normal and aggressive focused ultrasound parameters were compared through the analysis of green fluorescent protein (GFP) expression, a commonly used method for monitoring gene expression, to determine which allowed for more consistent delivery. It was determined that cell-type transduction remained consistent and was more effectively delivered under aggressive focused ultrasound. This is attributed to the blood-brain barrier remaining permeable for a longer period after aggressive treatment. Despite this, there was insufficient data to determine the underlying transport mechanisms of AAVs, and future studies will be necessary to optimize AAV delivery.