Key Points
- More than 100 people joined the virtual event to discuss the use of various microbubbles for focused ultrasound blood-brain barrier opening.
- A brief summary and the recording of the meeting are now available.
On July 10, the Foundation hosted a virtual roundtable discussion on therapeutic microbubbles.
More than 100 people joined the 2.5-hour livestream to hear perspectives from Foundation representatives and focused ultrasound experts from Sunnybrook Research Institute, Columbia University, and the University of Colorado Boulder. Online participants, including additional subject matter experts, also took part in the discussion.
The group met to address several questions related to the use of microbubbles, including:
- What are the pros and cons of the clinically approved microbubbles that are currently on the market?
- What are the ideal characteristics of microbubbles to be combined with therapeutic ultrasound?
- Is it possible to settle on a single therapeutic microbubble for use with focused ultrasound in blood-brain barrier opening?
- Are there ways to standardize parameters for preclinical research and clinical trials?
“Microbubbles are essential for blood-brain barrier opening with focused ultrasound; this process cannot occur without their co-administration,” explains Lauren Powlovich, MD, MBA, the Foundation’s associate director of the Research and Education team. “Recently, I noticed a lack of consensus on various aspects of therapeutic microbubble use, which could hinder the clinical progress of their use with focused ultrasound. Therefore, the goal of this meeting was to bring together research communities, industry, regulatory agencies, and clinical trialists to address questions and identify action items that the Foundation can pursue to ensure a successful path forward. The discussion was engaging and informative, and I am pleased to report that we have developed a plan of action to advance this area.”
The following action items will be pursued in the coming months:
- The Foundation, with the help of the steering committee, will organize a working group to write guidelines on microbubble characterization, handling, administration, and treatment parameter reporting.
- The steering committee will write a consensus/position paper on the state of the field for therapeutic microbubbles.
- The Foundation will host a data repository for sharing code for processing cavitation data.
A summary of the meeting is now available, along with a recording.
If you are interested in becoming involved with future discussions or initiatives related to microbubbles, contact Dr. Powlovich.