The Focused Ultrasound Foundation will award a clinical neuromodulation research prize to the first investigator or team of investigators to elicit transient sensory symptoms or tremor suppression using non-thermal FUS neuromodulation during a patient treatment.
The cash prize for determining sonication parameters in humans will be $25,000 if achieved before August 15, 2016 (with a chance to present at the 2016 International Symposium on Focused Ultrasound) or $15,000 if achieved before January 1, 2017.
It will be awarded to the first investigator to demonstrate a motor or sensory response to ultrasound focused on the thalamus without a significant increase in temperature at the target in a patient prior to thermal ablation for essential tremor, Parkinson’s tremor, or neuropathic pain.
The neurological effect must be documented by an observer independent of the management of the patient and blinded as to when the sonication for neuromodulation is occurring. Parties interested in applying for this prize should contact Kelsie Timbie prior to patient treatment for further instructions.