Key Points
- Seven recent conferences featured focused ultrasound presentations.
- Use the links below to access meeting programs and abstract information.
Pancreatic Cancer UK Discovery and Translational Research Forum
To support the efforts of Pancreatic Cancer UK, the Foundation helped sponsor the 2025 Discovery and Translational Research Forum, which was held November 6–7 in Birmingham, UK. The purpose of this conference is to convene scientists, clinicians, and industry representatives and then ask the attendees to identify, discuss, and brainstorm solutions to unresolved questions and challenges in pancreatic cancer research.
The agenda was divided into four main sessions: Collaboration, Interception, Heterogeneity, and a Therapeutic Innovation Panel. The afternoon of the second day was reserved for early career researchers and included several group activities.
The forum’s objectives were to facilitate the exchange of knowledge; encourage collaboration across disciplines, institutions, and between all levels of researchers; identify actions and strategies needed to move research discoveries from the lab to clinical practice; and to allow emerging researchers to showcase their work and connect with others in the field.
21st Annual Alliance to Cure Cavernous Malformation International Scientific Meeting
The Alliance to Cure Cavernous Malformation (CCM) held its 21st Annual International Scientific Meeting in Atlanta, Georgia, on November 6–7, 2025. CCMs are vascular lesions within the central nervous system that cause debilitating neurological symptoms.
Day 1 included plenary lectures, a poster session reception, and a special dinner. On Day 2, Foundation Chairman Neal F. Kassell, MD, gave a keynote speech on focused ultrasound treatment of CCM, which is currently in preclinical research. The keynote was followed by a plenary session for scientists and a concurrent CCM Clinical Center and Center of Excellence faculty meeting.
Patients with CCM were included in the meeting, with a unique agenda that included interactions with scientists and group social activities.
Asia Pacific Society for Transcranial Focused Ultrasound Surgery (APFUS)
The 2nd Annual APFUS meeting was held November 7–8, 2025, in Shanghai, China. The conference was co-chaired by Bomin Sun, MD, Professor from Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Ruijin Hospital, and APFUS President Jin Woo Chang, MD, PhD.
“I am deeply honored to chair APFUS 2025 in Shanghai and witness the remarkable convergence of minds and innovations in transcranial focused ultrasound surgery,” stated Prof. Sun. “This meeting has been a vibrant platform for sharing groundbreaking research, fostering cross-regional collaborations, and charting new paths for advancing patient care in our field. I am confident that the insights and partnerships forged here will propel the Asia-Pacific community to new heights in transcranial focused ultrasound research and clinical practice.”
Over 100 attendees from more than 10 countries and regions participated in presentations, panel discussions, invited talks, and a luncheon seminar. The scientific program featured sessions covering focused ultrasound treatments for Alzheimer’s disease, dystonia, psychiatric disorders, movement disorders, and advancements in interventional psychoradiology, as well as multidisciplinary discussions on functional neurosurgery and central nervous system disease treatment.
Suzanne LeBlang, MD, the Foundation’s director of clinical relationships, delivered an invited lecture virtually, which was titled “Curing with Sound: The Focused Ultrasound Foundation’s Strategic Priorities.” Renowned experts from institutions across the Asia-Pacific, including those from Korea, Japan, Taiwan, and mainland China, shared their latest research and clinical experiences.
The roundtable discussion and closing remarks summarized the achievements of the conference and highlighted its role in fostering collaboration and driving innovation in transcranial focused ultrasound surgery.
The Foundation thanks Drs. Halmurat Parhat and Jin Woo Chang for submitting this meeting report.
Korean Society of Therapeutic Ultrasound (KSTU)
KSTU 2025 was held November 7–8 in Daegu, South Korea. With two plenary lectures and two educational sessions – each with four talks – plus additional research updates, focused ultrasound was the central topic of this conference.
Just under 200 attendees, including about 10 radiologists, neurosurgeons, neurologists, and veterinarians, along with 20-30 people from industry enjoyed the two-day event.
The invited talks included lectures on artificial intelligence (AI), transducers, brain anatomy, and a high throughput sequencing technique. The Foundation co-sponsored the international session, which was an Asian scholar exchange program with Japan and Taiwan.
There were 20 poster presentations.
The exhibit hall featured 12 booths, and the meeting’s 19 sponsors included companies, professional organizations (e.g., the Focused Ultrasound Foundation, the Korean Society of Ultrasound in Medicine, Kyoungpook National University), and Daegu City (Exco).
The Foundation thanks Dong-Guk Paeng, PhD, for submitting this meeting report.
Neuroscience 2025
Neuroscience 2025, the Society for Neuroscience annual meeting, was held November 15–19 in San Diego, California. Several sessions included basic science research on focused ultrasound, with the Transcranial Ultrasound Stimulation Session featuring 27 abstracts.
The following submissions may be of interest to the focused ultrasound community:
Methods to Modulate Neural Activity (4)
- LBP024.08/LBP130 High-Pressure Transcranial Focused Ultrasound Stimulation Induces Parameter-Dependent Cell-Type Specific Effects by S. Ramachandran, *H. Gao, P. Zolotavin, K. Lee, C.-Y. Yeh, M. Kim, S. Wang, L. Luan, C. Xie, K. Yu, and B. He from Carnegie Mellon University and Rice University
- LBP024.09/LBP131 Neurodegeneration Associated with Repeated High-Frequency Transcranial Focused Ultrasound by *A. P. Brna, O. V. Favorov, T. Challener, A. Biliroglu, F. Y. Yamaner, R. Kemal, M. Annayev, O. Oralkan, D. M. Eidum, S. Simons, M. P. Weisend, and P. M. Connolly from Teledyne Scientific Company, University of North Carolina–Chapel Hill, and North Carolina State University
- LBP024.12/LBP134 Suppression of Pathological Oscillations with Transcranial Focused Ultrasound by *J. Eraifej, J. Toth, S. He, C. Butler, and A. L. Green from the University of Oxford
- LBP024.16/LBP138 EEG Decoding Reveals Distinct Temporal Dynamics of Neural Activity Evoked by Transcranial Focused Ultrasound in Humans by L. Krisst, D. A. Wagenaar, *M. H. Shehata, and S. Shimojo from Caltech and Toyohashi University of Technology
Transcranial Ultrasound Stimulation (27)
- PSTR038.08/AA2 Focused Ultrasound-Triggered Clonidine Delivery Enables Region-Specific Neuromodulation with Potential for Treating Neuropsychiatric Disorders by P. Ma, P. Martinez, *Y. Xiang, K. Sinha Roy, M. Purohit, and R. Airan from Stanford University
- PSTR081.04/T16 Ultrasound Stimulation of the Hypothalamus Evokes a Hypothermia and Hypometabolism State through Activation of Functionally and Molecularly Distinct Neurons by *D. Zhang, L. Yang, Y. Yue, J. Yuan, Y. Yang, and H. Chen from Washington University in St. Louis
- PSTR099.01/PP20 Uncovering the Neural Effects of Transcranial Focused Ultrasound Stimulation: An Electrophysiological Study in the Rat Somatosensory Cortex by *C. Smets, H. Huang, J.-J. Sun, and M. Mc Laughlin from KU Leuven (Belgium)
- PSTR099.02/QQ1 Enhancing Transcranial Ultrasound Targeting in Rats Through Skull Modelling and Cone Geometry Optimization by *R. Pieters, C. Smets, and M. Mc Laughlin from KU Leuven (Belgium)
- PSTR099.03/QQ2 Targeted Reversible Brain and Limb Anesthesia Via Focused Ultrasound–Assisted Liposomal Ropivacaine Uncaging by *P. Martinez, Y. Xiang, K. Sinha Roy, M. Purohit, B. Yu, and R. Airan from Stanford University
- PSTR099.04/QQ3 Transcranial Focused Ultrasound Induces Source Localizable Cortical Activation in Resting State Humans When Applied Concurrently with Transcranial Electric Stimulation by *J. Kosnoff, C. Gonsisko, K. Yu, J. Zhang, Y. Ding, Y. Zhang, and B. He from Carnegie Mellon University
- PSTR099.05/QQ4 Ultrasound-Induced Neuromodulation of Cortical Neurons through trpc6 Channel Activation by *M. Shimojo, Y. Matsushita, Y. Takeuchi, and M. Higuchi from National Institute for Quantum Science and Technology (Chiba, Japan) and Kindai University (Osaka, Japan)
- PSTR099.06/QQ5 Evaluation of Auditory Confounds in Transcranial Focused Ultrasound Brain Stimulation Using Cortical Recording by *J. Kum, S. Lee, S. Hyun, D. Sung, W. Lee, and H. Kim from the Korea Institute of Science and Technology (Seoul), the University of Science and Technology (Seoul), Sungkyunkwan University (Suwon, Korea), and Kyunghee University (Seoul)
- PSTR099.07/QQ6 Development of a Novel Ultrasound Adapter for Targeted Brain Stimulation by Y. Murai and *F. Yoshida from Kurume University (Kurume/Fukuoka, Japan)
- PSTR099.08/QQ7 Transcranial Focused Ultrasound Alters Neuronal Excitability and Spike Shape in a Parameter-Specific Manner in Rats by *H. Huang, C. Smets, L. Chen, and M. Mc Laughlin from KU Leuven (Belgium)
- PSTR099.09/QQ8 Temporal Patterning of Low-Intensity Focused Ultrasound Influences the Degree of Neuromodulation in the Human Motor Cortex by *G. Isaac and W. Legon from Virginia Tech and the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute
- PSTR099.10/QQ9 Transcranial Ultrasound Stimulation on Human Somatosensory Cortex Disrupts Motor Memory Consolidation by *S. Abbasikamazani, L. Hou, and Y. Lei from Texas A&M University
- PSTR099.11/QQ10 Effects of Transcranial Ultrasonic Stimulation on Cortical Activity and Pain Affect in Rodents by *E. Hu, Q. Zhang, Y. Zhu, T. Lemaire, S. Shoham, and J. Wang from New York University and Stanford University
- PSTR099.12/QQ11 Targeted Sonogenetic Neuromodulation of Piezo1 Using Focused Ultrasound by *Y. Lee, S. Koo, M. Kwak, and J. Cheon from Yonsei University
- PSTR099.13/QQ12 Focused Ultrasound–Induced BBB Opening Enables Noninvasive, Site-Specific Oxytocin Delivery in Primate Brain, Modulating Amygdala Activity and Connectivity by E. Djaballah, C. Cornu, G. Pagé, B. Larrat, and *Q. Zhu from INSERM, University Paris-Saclay, NeuroSpin (Gif-sur-Yvette Cedex, France), and TheraSonic (Paris, France)
- PSTR099.14/QQ13 Understanding the Causal Role of the Insula to Predictable and Unpredictable Threat: An fMRI Study by *S. Gholipour Picha and W. Legon from Virginia Tech and the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute
- PSTR099.15/QQ14 Investigating Axonal Responses to Ultrasound Neuromodulation In Vivo by *E. Vicari, T. Lemaire, T. Tarnaud, O. Rizzo, T. Plovie, O. Akouissi, B. Rodríguez-Meana, N. D. James, G. Courtine, E. Tanghe, E. Neufeld, and S. Micera from EPFL (Genève, Switzerland), New York University, Ghent University, University of Geneva, SSSA (Pisa, Italy), and the Foundation for Research on Information Technologies in Society (Zurich, Switzerland)
- PSTR099.16/QQ15 Preliminary Validation of Target Engagement in Low Intensity Focused Ultrasound Modulation in Human Motor Cortex by *S. Adams and A. S. Widge from the University of Minnesota
- PSTR099.17/QQ16 Transparent Ultrasound Cranial Window for Simultaneous Ultrasound Neuromodulation and Optical Imaging in Awake Mice by *S. Mirg, K. Samanta, P. Gaddale, F. Salehi Shahrbabaki, H. Lee, P. J. Drew, and S.-R. Kothapalli from Pennsylvania State University
- PSTR099.18/QQ17 Examination of Low-Intensity Focused Ultrasound Parameters in Human Motor and Somatosensory Cortices by *A. Kapoor, G. Isaac, and W. Legon from Virginia Tech and the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute
- PSTR099.19/QQ18 Neuromodulation of the Lateral Geniculate Nucleus with Non-Invasive Transcranial Ultrasound Stimulation – Investigations with SSVEPs and Psychophysics by *M. T. Scott, R. T. Ash, P. N. Limon, M. Mohammadjavadi, K. Butts Pauly, and A. M. Norcia from Stanford University and the University of California–San Francisco
- PSTR099.20/QQ19 Low-Intensity Pulsed Ultrasound Reduces the Activation of Microglia at the Tissue Electrode Interface and Increases Chronic Recording Yield by *K. Snook, R. Bagwell, T. D. Kozai, J. Gallego, T. Thai, V. Singh, M. L. Mulvihill, and J. Greaser from Actuated Medical, Inc. (Bellefonte, PA) and the University of Pittsburgh
- PSTR099.21/QQ20 Towards Validation of Transcranial Acoustoelectric Brain imaging of Neuronal Currents in Advanced Epilepsy Patients by *P.J.C. Harris, N. Abu Farha, K. M. Gothard, and R. S. Witte from the University of Arizona
- PSTR099.22/RR1 Transcranial Acoustoelectric Imaging of Neuronal Currents: Progress and Challenges by *R. S. Witte from the University of Arizona
- PSTR099.23/RR2 Ultrasound-Guided Bioluminescent Optogenetics Enables Spatially Targeted Neuromodulation of Distributed Brain Circuits Noninvasively by *E. Murphy, M. Doyley, J. F. Mitchell, K. H. Wang, and M. Gomez-Ramirez from the University of Rochester (Rochester, NY)
- PSTR099.24/RR3 Optimized Focused Ultrasound Neuromodulation of Brain Reward Center Activity and Behavior by *C. E. Luff, K. Murphy, O. C. Gonzalez, J. Morga-Rodriguez, J. A. Kauer, and L. De Lecea from Stanford University
- PSTR099.25/RR4 Supra- vs. Subharmonic Cavitation Signals as Indicators for Feedback-Controlled FUS BBB Modulation in Non-Human Primates by *S. Han and W. Chang from Yonsei University (Seoul, Korea)
- PSTR106.10/C7 Mapping the Sonication Parameter Space to Characterise Neuromodulation by Ultrasound Stimulation in the Hippocampus by *R. Cuthell, W. W. Watts, and D. J. Whitcomb from the University of Bristol (United Kingdom)
Cocaine: Reinforcement, Seeking, Reinstatement, and Other Behavioral Effects (1)
- PSTR135.08/DD11 Non-Invasive Stimulation of Parabrachial Nucleus Suppresses Cocaine-Seeking Behavior by G. Pyeon, J. Lee, J. Lee, J.-S. Choi, and *Y. Jo from the Salk Institute for Biological Studies (La Jolla), Korea University (Seoul, Korea), and the University of California–San Diego
Developing Treatments for Alcohol and Drug Addiction (1)
- PSTR038.08/AA2 Focused Ultrasound–Triggered Clonidine Delivery Enables Region-Specific Neuromodulation with Potential for Treating Neuropsychiatric Disorders by P. Ma, P. Martinez, *Y. Xiang, K. Sinha Roy, M. Purohit, and R. Airan from Stanford University
Motor Neurons: Development, Identification, Intrinsic Properties, and Modulation (1)
- PSTR029.06/P5 Facilitation of Human Corticospinal Excitability by Personalized Spinal Cord Ultrasound Stimulation by *L. Hou and Y. Lei from Texas A&M University
Biomarker, Drug Discovery, and Experimental Therapeutics (1)
- LBP021.10/LBP063 Localized and Deep Brain Release of Molecules with Photosensitive Nanovesicles and Mechanoluminescent Nanoparticles by *H. Tajarenejad, A. Pal, M. Malinao, A. Deanda, K. Sharmah Gautam, X. Ge, S. Achilefu, G. Hong, and Z. Qin from the University of Texas at Dallas, University of Texas Southwestern, and Stanford University
Thermoregulation, Respiratory Regulation, and Other (1)
- PSTR081.04/T16 Ultrasound Stimulation of the Hypothalamus Evokes a Hypothermia and Hypometabolism State through Activation of Functionally and Molecularly Distinct Neurons by *D. Zhang, L. Yang, Y. Yue, J. Yuan, Y. Yang, and H. Chen from Washington University in St. Louis
- LBP039.12/LBP028 High-Resolution, Non-Invasive Transcranial Functional Ultrasound Imaging Combined with Targeted Neuromodulation in Awake, Behaving Animals by *M. Gerlach, S. Albert, R. Jones, T. Gildemeister, M. Hemelt, A. W. Hantman, and P. Dayton from the University of North Carolina–Chapel Hill and North Carolina State University
Parkinson’s Disease Therapeutic Strategies: Clinical Trials (1)
- PSTR159.01/D41 Relationship Between Ventricular and Thalamic Nuclei Volumes as Assessed by Brainlab Amongst a Population Undergoing Focused Ultrasound (FUS) or Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) for Parkinson’s Disease (PD) or Essential Tremor (ET) by *E. L. Hargreaves, G. Antony, M. Brennan, C. Raichle, R. Zhu, D. Dolce, and S. F. Danish from Jersey Shore University Medical Center (Neptune, NJ) and Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine (Hackensack, NJ)
- PSTR211.04/D39 Neuromodulatory Strategies for Parkinson’s Disease: Exploring N-acetylcysteine and MRI-Guided Ultrasound for Targeted Neuroprotection and Brain Circuit Modulation by *R. Caridade, B. Araújo, C. Ferreira, C. Teixeira, C. Guedes, R. Wade-Martins, H. J. Fernandes, and F. Teixeira from the Institute for Research and Innovation in Health (Porto, Portugal), Polytechnic University of Porto (Portugal), University of Minho (Braga, Portugal), PT Government Associated Lab (Braga/Guimarães, Portugal), and the University of Oxford (United Kingdom)
Learning and Memory in Subcortical Circuits (1)
- PSTR191.06/QQ9 Analysis of Functional Circuits Based on Time-Dependent Brain Activity in Cortical and Subcortical Areas in Response to CaMKII-Specific Stimulation Reflecting Microtubule Structure by *D.-H. Kwon and H. Kim from Pohang University of Science and Technology (Korea)
Intrinsic Membrane Properties and Signal integration (1)
- LBP057.05/LBP050 Electrophysiological Effect of Focused Ultrasound on Hippocampal Neurons by *N. Zoka, S. Hosie, J. Drummond, D. B. Grayden, and S. John from the University of Melbourne (Australia)
Eye Movements: Central Mechanisms, Perception, Cognition, and Saccades (1)
- PSTR225.08/R1 Investigating Waiting Impulsivity Using a Four-Choice Serial Reaction Time Task in Macaque Monkeys by *J. Loayza, M. Bashaiweth, T. Orset, T.-M. Sartoris, Y. Worbe, J.-F. Aubry, and P. Pouget from Sorbonne Université, Paris Brain Institute, INSERM, APHP Hôpital de la Pitié Salpêtrière (Paris, France), Physics for Medicine Paris, and Paris Science Lettres University (France)
- PSTR231.05/Y10 Hypothalamus Preoptic Area Stimulation Evokes a Conserved Torpor-Like State in Non-Torpid Mammals by *L. Yang, D. Zhang, J. Yuan, Y. Yang, Y. Yue, and H. Chen from Washington University in St. Louis
Alzheimer’s Disease and Other Dementias (1)
- LBP071.40/LBP070 Repeated FUS+MB Induced BBB Opening in Young (2-4 mo) C57BL/6J and Tg5XFAD Mice Using DCE-MRI by *N. S. Santa Maria, S. W. Lin, X. Liu, T. Nguyen, R. E. and Jacobs from the University of Southern California, University of California–San Francisco, and University of California–Los Angeles
Movement Disorders Other Than Parkinson’s Disease (1)
- LBP073.08/LBP147 Non-Invasive Focused Ultrasound Delivery of Engineered U1 snRNA Strategy for Targeted Suppression of CAG Repeat Expanded HTT in an HD Mouse Model by *Q. Wu, H. Slika, S. K. Yadav, S. Surasinghe, D. Gerochi, A. Kakazu, M.-F. Vidaver, A. Smargon, S. Hatch, G. Yeo, B. Tyler, and W. Duan from Johns Hopkins University, University of Cincinnati, and University of California–San Diego
Huntington’s Disease: Preclinical Studies (1)
- PSTR269.02/E18 Focused Ultrasound-Mediated Delivery of Adeno-Associated Virus Vectors Expressing Short Hairpin RNAs for the Silencing of Msh3 in a Mouse Model of Huntington’s Disease by *B. S. Owusu-Yaw, Y. Zhang, R. Mouro Pinto, and N. Todd from Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Massachusetts General Hospital
Techniques for Drug Delivery to the Brain (5)
- PSTR309.06/VV6 Gene Delivery and Regulation in the Brain of Mixed-Strain Mice: Impact of the LY6A Receptor on AAV.PHP.eB Transduction and Focused Ultrasound on GFAP-Driven Transgene Expression by *C. L. Dibia, N. Vacaresse, D. Yurtsever, L. Rubio Atonal, B. Laurette, K. Hynynen, and I. Aubert from the University of Toronto, Sunnybrook Research Institute, and Sunnybrook Health Sciences Center
- PSTR309.08/VV7 Enhancing the Efficacy of Low-Dose Doxorubicin Using Focused Ultrasound: A Strategy to Reduce Toxicity by *C. SONG, J. PARK, and W. CHANG from Yonsei University (Seoul, Korea)
- PSTR309.09/VV8 Focused Ultrasound–Enabled Biomarker Discovery by *S. Kostense, S. Cotton, M. Bsibsi, M. Samba Mondonga, S. Authier, and Z. Noroozian from Charles River (Leiden, the Netherlands; Senneville, Quebec, Canada; Laval, Quebec, Canada), and Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre
- PSTR309.10/VV9 Focused Ultrasound–Mediated Delivery of Temozolomide Enhances Therapeutic Efficacy in Infiltrative Glioblastoma by *J. Shin, C. Kong, Y. Seo, S. Han, and W. Chang from K-MEDI Hub–Daegu-Gyeongbuk Medical Innovation Foundation (Korea) and Yonsei University (Seoul, Korea)
- PSTR309.15/VV14 Enhanced Anti-Seizure Efficacy by Focused-Ultrasound-Mediated Blood Brain Barrier Modulation in Rat Model of Temporal Lobe Epilepsy by *J. Baek, J. Park, S. Han, H.-J. Lee, S. Lim, and W. Chang from Yonsei University (Seoul, Korea)
Computational Approaches in fMRI or EEG (1)
- PSTR310.01/VV21 Numerical Analysis of Microbubble Dynamics in Transcranial Focused Ultrasound Using Acoustic Simulations by J. Yu and *H. Seo from Gyeongsang National University (Jinju-si, Korea)
Optical Methodology: Application (1)
- PSTR365.03/WW5 Optimizing a Protocol for In Vivo Quantification of Focused Ultrasound–Induced Blood-Brain Barrier Opening Using Two-Photon Fluorescence Imaging in Mice by *H. Lee and S. Kim from Kyung Hee University (Seoul, Korea)
Electrophysiology: Electrode Arrays II (1)
- PSTR366.06/Web Only Mapping Seizure Activity Using Transcranial Acoustoelectric Imaging in a Human Head Model with Neuronavigation by *N. Abu Farha and R. S. Witte from the University of Arizona
Long-Term Synaptic Plasticity: Induction and Modulation (1)
- PSTR376.23/C43 Brief Transcranial Focused Ultrasound Stimulation Causes Lasting Modifications to the Synaptic Circuitry of the Rat Hippocampus by *W. W. Watts, R. Cuthell, and D. J. Whitcomb from the University of Bristol (United Kingdom)
Non-Opioid Pain Treatments (1)
- PSTR391.14/O9 Diagnostic Ultrasound-Guided Focused Ultrasound-Induced Non-Invasive, Reversible Peripheral Nerve Inhibition in an In Vivo Model of Acute Pain: A Proof-of-Concept Study by *N. Sangwan and T. Anderson from Stanford University
Human Long Term Memory: Medial Temporal Lobe (1)
- PSTR412.03/MM16 Encoding and Retrieval Mnemonic Discrimination in the Medial Temporal Lobe – Implications for Ultrasound-Targeted Memory Neuromodulation by *Y. Ni, M. Nimkar, and W. Legon from Virginia Tech, Fralin Biomedical Research Institute, and Academies of Loudoun (Loudoun County, Virginia)
Visual Pathways: Subcortical Structures (1)
- PSTR171.10/Q10 Targeting Primate Pulvinar Projections: A Neurosurgical and Electrophysiological Approach by *A. R. Andrei, D. Mikulek, J. O. Szablowski, and V. Dragoi from Houston Methodist Research Institute (Texas), Rice Neuroengineering Initiative (Texas), Methodist/Rice Center for Neural Systems Restoration, and Weill Cornell Medical College
Treatment and Drug Discovery in Mood Disorders (1)
- PSTR352.05 / JJ8 – Subjective reports during ultrasonic neuromodulation of subcallosal cingulate cortex predict subsequent clinical response in treatment-resistant depression
- *B. COOPER1, T. RIIS2, D. FELDMAN2, V. KOPPELMANS3, J. KUBANEK4, B. J. MICKEY5;
- 1MSTP, Univ. of Utah, SALT LAKE CITY, UT; 2Biomed. Engin., 3Univ. of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT; 4Biomed. Engin., Univ. of Utah, 36 S Wasatch Dr, UT; 5Dept. of Psychiatry, Univ. of Utah Sch. of Med., Salt Lake City, UT
Search the Meeting Planning Tool for your own key words or indications of interest. Virtual content is available on-demand through December 21, 2025.
The next meeting will be held November 14–18, 2026 in Washington DC
Society for Neuro-Oncology (SNO) 2025 Annual Meeting
SNO 2025 was held November 19–23 in Honolulu, Hawaii. With a theme of “30 Years of Progress,” the society’s 30th anniversary served as a time to reflect on and celebrate the remarkable international advances and innovation in neuro-oncology since SNO was founded in 1995.
For this year’s conference, SNO joined forces with the World Federation of Neuro-Oncology Societies (WFNOS) as it held its 7th Quadrennial Meeting. WFNOS is the international collaborative platform that unites all of the global neuro-oncology organizations to foster partnerships and advance research, education, and clinical care for patients with central nervous system tumors. Every four years WFNOS is hosted by one of its charter societies.
Several members of the Foundation’s Research and Education Team attended the meeting, and the Foundation sponsored an exhibit on the use of focused ultrasound for neuro-oncology applications. French manufacturer Carthera, the maker of the SonoCloud device, was also an exhibitor.
“At SNO, it was encouraging to learn about upcoming focused ultrasound research in epilepsy, glioblastoma, and liquid biopsy disease monitoring via cerebrospinal fluid,” said Suzanne LeBlang, MD, the Foundation’s director of clinical relationships. “Another area that I think will have a huge impact on our field is the use of positron emission tomography to visualize brain tumor margins.”
Lauren Hadley, MD, MBA, the Foundation’s co-director of research and education, also attended SNO, as did Emily Whipple, PhD, and Jenna Osborn, PhD.
“It was a great meeting. It was the largest attendance and scientific contribution that SNO has ever had,” said Dr. Hadley. “The Foundation booth was flooded with people who were interested in learning more about focused ultrasound and how they could become involved in research or receive project funding. Because of the high level of interest, I would highly encourage more focused ultrasound manufacturers to set up booths at future SNO conferences. From a scientific perspective, I learned of brain tumor advances and combination treatment options that are already changing the landscape for focused ultrasound applications.”
The following content may be of interest to the focused ultrasound community:
Emerging Technologies – Diagnosis
- Liquid Biopsy in Brain Cancers by Chetan Bettegowda (Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine)
Basic Science Advances in the Field of Neuro-Oncology
- Targeting Diffuse Midline Glioma via Immunotherapy and Neuron-to-Glioma Synapse Disruption by Michelle Monje (Stanford)
- Focused Ultrasound in Neuro-Oncology by Ying Meng (Sunnybrook)
Biological & Clinical Utility of Liquid Biopsies in Pediatric and Adult Neuro-Oncology
- Development and Clinical Implementation of CSF Liquid Biopsy Profiling by Chetan Bettegowda (Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine)
Oral Abstracts
- EXTH-30 Improving intravenous B7-H3 CAR T cell treatment for DMG using MRgFUS
- IMMU-14 Focused ultrasound–mediated blood-brain barrier disruption, combined with antigen-presenting cell activation, promotes CNS antigen-specific T cell immunity and bypasses immunotherapy resistance mechanism in malignant brain tumors
- BIOM-68 TAPS liquid biopsy: an ultrasensitive, integrated genomic-epigenetic CSF assay for CNS tumors
- INNV-19 International multi-centre clinical performance evaluation of a brain cancer liquid biopsy
Posters
- CNSC-39 Use of magnetic resonance-guided focused ultrasound in the treatment of diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma
- CTNI-37 Sonobird: A phase 3 trial of blood-brain-barrier (BBB) opening with the SonoCloud-9 in recurrent glioblastoma patients receiving IV carboplatin
- CTNI-42 Navigated focused ultrasound combined with radiotherapy for malignant glioma: A pilot clinical study
- DDEL-13 Enhanced CNS delivery of therapeutic nanoparticles with focused ultrasound improves treatment efficacy in glioblastoma
- DDEL-16 Opening the blood-brain barrier with focused ultrasound for drug delivery: A meta-analysis of pharmacokinetic determinants
- DDEL-19 A Novel Platform of Paclitaxel-Loaded Microbubbles with Focused Ultrasound for Enhanced Glioblastoma Drug Delivery and Treatment
- DDEL-22 Safety, feasibility, and preliminary efficacy of albumin-bound paclitaxel as monotherapy and in combination with carboplatin delivered by blood-brain barrier opening using a skull-implantable ultrasound: Preliminary results of a Phase I-II trial in recurrent glioblastoma
- DDEL-28 Systemic delivery of lipid nanoparticles into infiltrating zone of brain tumors following opening the BBB via Magnetic Resonance-Guided Focused Ultrasound in a Swine Model
- EXTH-21 Preclinical Studies of Microbubble-Mediated Non-Thermal Focused Ultrasound for Intracranial Tumor Ablation
- EXTH-30 Improving intravenous B7-H3 CAR T cell treatment for DMG using MRgFUS
- EXTH-39 Inhibition of glioma cell invasiveness by sonodynamic therapy
- EXTH-41 A bench-top model for the sonodynamic therapy of medulloblastoma
- EXTH-53 Selective Enhancement of Sonodynamic Therapy by Trametinib Through Modulation of PpIX Accumulation in Glioma
- EXTH-55 Targeting Malignant Gliomas with 5-ALA Sonodynamic Therapy: In Vitro Efficacy, HIFU-Delivered In Vivo Treatment, and Berberine Potentiation
- EXTH-71 Optimizing CAR T-Cell therapy in group 3 medulloblastoma through tumor microenvironment modulation and blood-brain barrier disruption
- EXTH-90 Glioblastoma Fratricide: In Situ Reprogramming of Glioblastoma Stem Cells Into Focused Ultrasound–Controlled, CAR-Expressing Myeloid-like Cells for GBM Immunotherapy
- IMG-35 Targeted blood-nerve-barrier opening for the delivery of MEK inhibitor selumetinib in peripheral nerve sheath tumours using focused ultrasound.
- IMMU-14 Focused ultrasound–mediated blood-brain barrier disruption, combined with antigen-presenting cell activation, promotes CNS antigen-specific T cell immunity and bypasses immunotherapy resistance mechanism in malignant brain tumors
- SURG-98 Clinical outcomes, operational metrics, and translational insights derived from trials of MR-guided, transcranial, microbubble-enhanced focused ultrasound for brain tumors: a 2010-2025 evidence analysis
- TIP-29 Safety study of focused ultrasound neuromodulation for schwannomas and plexiform neurofibroma related pain
Search each of these abstracts and your own key words in the Meeting Program.
Radiology Society of North America (RSNA) 2025
With a theme of “Imaging the Individual,” RSNA 2025 was held November 30 through December 4 in Chicago.
The winner of the Cum Laude award was CAPTAIN Randomized Controlled Trial of MRI-Guided Transurethral Ultrasound Ablation (TULSA) Versus Robotic Radical Prostatectomy: Initial Perioperative Outcomes by Pejman Ghanouni, MD, PhD, and his collaborative group of colleagues who presented early data comparing TULSA procedure outcomes with those from robotic radical prostatectomy. See the Press Release from Profound Medical.
Satoru Takahashi, MD, PhD, of Takatsuki General Hospital in Japan, also received a Certificate of Merit award for his presentation titled “TULSA for Prostate Cancer: MRI-Based Pre-Treatment Planning and Post-Treatment Assessment – An Emerging Alternative in the Focal Therapy Spectrum.”
Innovation Theater
On Tuesday, December 2, Profound Medical hosted Innovation Theater (IT#103) titled, “Discover TULSA-PRO: AI-Powered MRI-Guided Precision Prostate Ablation.” Joseph J. Busch, MD, and Daniel N. Costa, MD, presented a 20-minute educational session on TULSA-PRO’s clinical utility and workflow, as supported by data from major studies and real-world applications. TULSA-PRO is an AI-powered technology for MRI-guided transurethral ultrasound ablation of prostate tissue in men with prostate cancer and/or BPH.
Presentations and Abstracts
- GUEE-37. Transurethral Ultrasound Ablation (TULSA) for Prostate Cancer: Comprehensive Overview and Experience from a High-Volume Center by Naveen Rajamohan, MD,MBBS, Kareem K. Elfatairy, MBBCh, PhD, Jesus Pineda Ramirez, MD, Asim Afaq, MD, Gaurav Khatri, MD, Daniel N. Costa, MD, and Jovan Begovic, MD
- GUEE-39. MRI-Guided Transurethral Ultrasound Ablation for Prostate Cancer: A Comprehensive Manual to mpMRI-Based Evaluation and Pitfall Avoidance by Enis Yilmaz, MD, Omer Esengur, MD, Bradford J. Wood, MD, Sandeep Gurram, Peter Pinto, and Baris Turkbey, MD
- GUEE-55. TULSA for Prostate Cancer: MRI-Based Pre-Treatment Planning and Post-Treatment Assessment – An Emerging Alternative in the Focal Therapy Spectrum by Satoru Takahashi, MD, PhD, Masayoshi Miura, Hiroshi Higashiyama, and Yasuhito Yamaoka
- IREE-49. High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound in Varicose Vein Therapy by Motaz A. Daraghma, MD, Umar Hashim, and Hunaid Rana, BS
- IREE-61. Histotripsy of Hepatic Lesions: Early Lessons for Post Treatment Diagnostic Studies by Anna S. McKenney, MD,PhD, Qian Yu, MD, Andrew Navarro, MD, Osmanuddin S. Ahmed, MD, Christos S. Georgiades, MD, PhD, Mikhail Silk, MD, Mishal Mendiratta-Lala, MD, and Elizabeth M. Hecht, MD
- M3-STCE2. Science Session: Imaging-Guided Oncologic Therapies: From Histotripsy to Theranostics and Beyond
- M5A-SPGU-5. CAPTAIN Randomized Controlled Trial of MRI-Guided Transurethral Ultrasound Ablation (TULSA) Versus Robotic Radical Prostatectomy: Initial Perioperative Outcomes by Pejman Ghanouni, MD, PhD, Geoffrey Sonn, MD, Sandeep S. Arora, MBBS, Robert A. Princenthal, MD, Martin I. Cohen, MD, David A. Woodrum, MD, PhD, Katarzyna J. Macura, MD, PhD, Temel Tirkes, MD, David M. Sella, MD, Gregory Frey, Joseph J. Busch, MD, Steven S. Raman, MD, Andrei S. Purysko, MD, Pietari Makela, MD, Xiaosong Meng, Yair Lotan, MD, Preston Sprenkle, Lance A. Mynderse, MD, Christian Pavlovich, MD, Michael Koch, Ram Pathak, Laurence Klotz, MD, Naveen Kella, Rahul Mehan, Gina M. Clarke, PhD, Robert Staruch, and Daniel N. Costa, MD
- M5B-SPGU-2. Comparing the Novel Target and PI-FAB Scoring Systems for the Evaluation of the Local Recurrence of Prostate Cancer after HIFU by Michael Phillipi, Shayan Saeed, Ashima Kundu, Saira Arora, Christopher Liu, Kasha Chen, Yinuo Zhang, Justin Glavis-Bloom, MD, Akash C. Joshi, MD, James Shi, MD, Amir Imanzadeh, MD, and Roozbeh Houshyar, MD
- NREE-118. Personalized Targeting of MR-Guided Focused Ultrasound VIM Thalamotomy for Essential Tremor: Overview and How We Do It by Toshio Yamaguchi, MD, PhD
- R2-SPIR-1. Efficacy of Low-Intensity Focused Ultrasound–Augmented Chemotherapy as Second-Line Treatment for Metastatic Pancreatic Cancer by Shuhui Dong, Tianqi Zhang, Xue Han, Yi-Quan Jiang, Zhimei Huang, and Jinhua Huang
- R4-STCE1. Science Session: Imaging-Guided Oncologic Therapies: From Histotripsy to Theranostics and Beyond
- R5A-SPIR-2. Ducts Preserved, Tumors Targeted: Histotripsy for Centrally Located Liver Lesions by Valerie Khaykin, Neehar Parikh, MD, Nathan E. Loudon, MD, Andrew Navarro, MD, Aadithya Nalla, Man Zhang, MD, PhD, Vaibhav Sahai, MBBS, Elaine M. Caoili, MD, MS, and Mishal Mendiratta-Lala, MD
- R5A-SPNR-15. Prediction of Individual Tremor Improvement after MRgFUS Thalamotomy in Essential Tremor via Machine Learning on Resting-State fMRI Data by Yongqin Xiong, Xiaoyu Wang, Haoxuan Lu, Yina Lan, Xinyu Wang, and Xin Lou, MD, PhD
- S1-CNR08E. Understanding HIFUS: A Radiologist’s Guide by Timothy J. Kaufmann, MD, MS (Dr. Kaufmann also moderated this entire session.)
- S1-STCE1. Science Session: Imaging-Guided Oncologic Therapies: From Histotripsy to Theranostics and Beyond.
- S3B-SPNR-1. Repeated Neuromodulation with Low-Intensity Focused Ultrasound in Patients with Alzheimer’s Disease by Yong-An Chung, MD, PhD, and In Uk Song
- T3-STCE2. Science Session: Imaging-Guided Oncologic Therapies: From Histotripsy to Theranostics and Beyond
- T5-STCE1. Science Session: Imaging-Guided Oncologic Therapies: From Histotripsy to Theranostics and Beyond
- T5-STCE1-2. Ultrasound-Guided Microbubble Therapy Reshapes the Pancreatic Tumor Microenvironment by Chung-Hsin Wang, PhD, Shih-Tsung Kang
- T5A-SPNR-12. Moderate Adverse Events in MR-Guided Focused Ultrasound VIM Thalamotomy for Tremor: A Case Series and Strategic Modifications by Toshio Yamaguchi, MD, PhD
- T6-SSIR02-1. Ablation Without Coagulation? Managing Portal Vein Thrombosis After Histotripsy by Aadithya Nalla, BS, Nathan E. Loudon, MD, Valerie Khaykin, Andrew Navarro, MD, Elaine M. Caoili, MD, MS, Neehar Parikh, MD, and Mishal Mendiratta-Lala, MD
- T6-SSIR02-5. MR-Guided Transurethral Ultrasound Ablation (TULSA): Single Center Outcomes in 160 Patients with Organ-Confined Prostate Cancer by Joseph J. Busch, MD, Kathy Busch, Roland Rose, Jessica Pendergraft, and Amanda Sdrigotti
- T8-CIR10E. Histotripsy by Mishal Mendiratta-Lala, MD
- W3-SSNR10-6. 7T MRI Quantitative Susceptibility Mapping for MRgFUS Thalamotomy: Methodology and Anatomo-Clinical Correlations in a Pilot Study by Daniele Botta, Rares Salomir, PhD, Karl-Olof Lovblad, MD, and Felix T. Kurz, MD
- W5B-SPIR-1. Spatiotemporal Control of Antibiotic Release via Ultrasound Responsive Emulsion Hydrogels with Chitosan Coating by Ziba Ghareh Nazi Fam, Asia Winslow, Viren Soni, Gagan Kaushal, Mario Fabiilli, Flemming Forsberg, PhD, Brian Oeffinger, Noreen J. Hickok, PhD, and Lauren J. Delaney, PhD
- W6-STCE2-1. The New Era of Non-Invasive Treatment for Focal Liver Tumours with Histotripsy – Early Results and Experience from Asia by Neeraj R. Mahboobani, MBBS, FRCR, Lok Hei Patricia Chan, Kam Ho V. Lee, MBBS, SIU CHUN TSAI, James F. Griffith, MD
Search the Session Catalog for your own key words or therapeutic interest area.