Key Points
- Nearly 500 attendees gathered this month for the 25th annual meeting of the International Society for Therapeutic Ultrasound.
- Learn about the highlighted topics and award recipients, including Foundation chairman Neal F. Kassell’s Lifetime Impact Award.
The International Symposium for Therapeutic Ultrasound (ISTU) was held June 15–18, 2026 at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology in Trondheim, Norway, and virtually. This annual meeting convenes researchers, clinicians, industry professionals, and students from around the world who are working on a wide array of therapeutic ultrasound applications. ISTU provides a forum for sharing the latest research in focused ultrasound and related modalities, including drug delivery, neuromodulation, oncology, and more. The event is organized by the International Society for Therapeutic Ultrasound and regularly features speakers from academia, medicine, and industry.
Of note, this year’s event was the 25th annual meeting with nearly 500 attendees. The program continued ISTU’s tradition of emphasizing technical and translational developments, but the clinical day – which was sponsored by the Foundation – garnered strong interest as well.
“A highlight for me was the clinical day, which had 371 attendees,” said Chrit Moonen, PhD, a managing director and the co-director of the Foundation’s Research and Education Team. “I am proud of ISTU, the Foundation, and key focused ultrasound clinicians and scientists who worked diligently to create a robust program. The talks highlighted focused ultrasound basics and mechanisms of action, drug delivery, neuroablation, neuromodulation, artificial intelligence in therapeutic ultrasound, as well as clinical applications in the abdomen, prostate, and gynecological applications.”
Award Winners
Foundation Chairman Neal F. Kassell, MD, received the inaugural Lifetime Impact Award in recognition of his visionary leadership and enduring contributions to advancing the field of focused ultrasound. The award reflects Dr. Kassell’s decades-long commitment to transforming the lives of patients through ensuring continuous funding and championing of innovation and collaboration.
The William and Francis Fry Honorary Fellowship for Contributions to Therapeutic Ultrasound was presented to Vera A. Khokhlova, PhD, from Lomonosov Moscow State University and the University of Washington. Her talk was entitled, “Nonlinear Acoustics in Therapeutic Ultrasound.”
The Frederic Lizzi Early Career Award, which was sponsored by Bracco, was given to Natasha D. Sheybani, PhD, from the University of Virginia. She presented, “Controlled Chaos: Trials, Triumphs, and Lessons at the Intersection of Acoustics and Tumor Immunology.”
Lawrence A. Crum, PhD, from the University of Washington, received the Excellence in Mentorship Award and presented, “Mentorship is for Everyone.”
The Distinguished Clinician Investigator Award was given to David Cranston, DPhil, FRCS, from the University of Oxford. His presentation was entitled, “30 Years of HIFU from the Dreaming Spires of Oxford and the River Mists of Chongqing.”
Shayan Moosa, MD, also from the University of Virginia, received the Early Career Clinical Investigator Award. The title of his presentation was, “Advancing the Frontiers of Transcranial Focused Ultrasound: AI-Guided Lesioning, Neuromodulation, and Sonodynamic Therapy.”
Plenary Talks
- Emily White, MD, from Sonic Concepts, presented “State of the Field,” an update on the worldwide clinical and commercial progress achieved to date in the focused ultrasound field, based upon the Foundation’s annual report.
- Neal F. Kassell, MD, chairman, and Lauren Hadley, MD, MBA, associate director of the Foundation’s Research and Education Team, presented “FUS Foundation Update,” to provide an overview of the International Focused Ultrasound Society (IFUS), a newly formed entity aimed to further advance the clinical implementation of focused ultrasound and complement the activities of ISTU and FUSF.
- Jonathan Whitlock, PhD, from the Norwegian University of Science and Technology, presented “Uncovering the Brain’s Model of the Bodily Self.”
- Natasha D. Sheybani, PhD, presented “Bench-to-Bedside Engineering of Precision Immunotherapy Paradigms with Focused Ultrasound.”
“ISTU2026 was an inspiring reminder of the remarkable momentum within the focused ultrasound community,” said Dr. Hadley. “I was especially impressed by the outstanding scientific presentations from both established leaders and early-career investigators, as well as the collaborative spirit that defined the meeting. It was a pleasure to reconnect with colleagues and collaborators and meet new members of the community at the Foundation’s exhibit and during the social events. One of the conference highlights was the ‘Women in Focused Ultrasound’ panel, where four accomplished women at different stages of their careers shared honest reflections on pursuing scientific excellence while navigating the realities of life beyond the lab. Their openness, resilience, and thoughtful advice were both inspiring and empowering for all.”
Annual Debate
The meeting closed with the ever-popular ISTU annual debate. This year’s topic was “Publish or Pivot? Academia vs Industry.” Moderated by Jean-Francois Aubry, PhD, from Physics for Medicine Paris, the debate pitted Erik Dumont, PhD, from Image Guided Therapy, against Allison Payne, PhD, from the University of Utah. The debate featured original arguments on the advantages and disadvantages for scientists to work in industry or academia.
Abstract Presentations
ISTU 2026 featured 47 late-breaking posters, 190 regular posters, and 134 oral talks. Virtual attendance is still possible to access the meeting recordings and content.
Go to the ISTU 2026 Meeting Site
Download the ISTU 2026 Program Book (PDF)
Search the Detailed Meeting Program
Next Meeting
ISTU 2027 will be held September 7–11 in Brisbane, Australia.