Key Points
- Twelve recent conferences featured focused ultrasound presentations.
- Use the links below to access meeting programs and abstract information.
Veterinary Innovation Summit (VIS)
Philip Bergman, DVM, MS, PhD, DACVIM-Oncology, the Foundation’s Veterinary Program Director, attended VIS 2025, which was held September 3–5 in Kansas City, Missouri. The aim of the summit is to imagine the future of veterinary medicine through creativity, discussion, and collaboration. It was attended by about 350 people and including innovative keynotes on some of the upcoming trends veterinary medicine.
“Focused ultrasound innovation would be a great topic for a future VIS meeting,” said Dr. Bergman. “The keynotes are presented in an exciting format that truly engages the audience. This group is also interested in spin-out companies that translate innovative ideas to the clinic, and I look forward to focused ultrasound being among those.”
The meeting program is available online.
Blood Profiling Atlas in Cancer (BloodPAC) Consortium Third Quarter (Q3) In-Person Meeting
The BloodPAC Consortium seeks to accelerate the development, validation, and clinical use of liquid biopsy assays to better inform medical decisions and improve patient care and outcomes. Consortium members address challenges in the broader field of liquid biopsy by fostering collaboration between regulatory, industry, and academic institutions.
Suzanne LeBlang, MD, the Foundation’s director of clinical relationships, attended BloodPAC’s Q3 in-person meeting, which was held September 3–4 in Madison, Wisconsin. Hosted by Exact Sciences, the more than 100 attendees from about 35 different companies and institutions engaged in focused working group sessions then presented their suggestions to the entire consortium.
“I was particularly excited by the progress made by the Brain Tumor Working Group,” said Dr. LeBlang. “We are engaging various stakeholders to work together to design a protocol for clinical validation using focused ultrasound–enhanced liquid biopsy. BloodPAC has created a superb collaborative environment to advance knowledge and clinical applicability for liquid biopsies throughout the body, and now, with focused ultrasound’s ability to open the blood-brain barrier, neurologic cancers and other diseases may now be available to study.”
Deep Focus on Movement Disorders
On September 4, Foundation Consultant Francesco Prada, MD, a neurosurgeon and scientist at Istituto Neurologico C. Besta in Milan, Italy, joined a small group of experts to present focused ultrasound topics at the Deep Focus on Movement Disorders meeting. Held in Bern, Switzerland, the conference was sponsored by the Insel Gruppe and the Swiss Medical Network.
The agenda featured MR-guided focused ultrasound (MRgFUS) and deep brain stimulation (DBS) as innovative therapies for the treatment of movement disorders. Marc Gallay, MD, a Swiss focused ultrasound expert, was one of the meeting organizers. With about 100 attendees, the full-day event reviewed current evidence on the treatment of Parkinson’s disease and essential tremor, especially for patients with chronic and treatment-refractory symptoms.
Focused ultrasound was included in the following presentations:
- Introduction: Functional Neurosurgery for Movement Disorders – Evidence for MRgFUS by Georg Kägi (Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, Neurology)
- MR-Guided Focused Ultrasound: How We Do It by Marc Gallay, MD (SIFUS MRgFUS Center, Ostermundigen, and Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, Neurosurgery and Neurology)
- Which Treatment for Which Patient: MRgFUS, DBS, or Gamma Knife? by Lain Hermes González Quarante, MD (University of Navarra, Neurosurgery)
- Stanford Experience with Focused Ultrasound Technology in the Brain and Body: Current and Future Applications by Pejman Ghanouni, MD, PhD (Stanford University, Radiology, Division of Body MRI, and by courtesy, Urology, Neurosurgery, and Obstetrics and Gynecology)
- Focused Ultrasound in Neuro-Oncology: Advances and Perspectives by Dr. Prada (IRCCS Istituto Neurologico Carlo Besta, Neurosurgery)
“The new focused ultrasound center in Switzerland, in collaboration with Inselspital, is a major step for the European focused ultrasound community,” said Dr. Prada. “We are strengthening clinical and research ties between centers like this and ours in Milan to advance cross-border collaboration in movement disorder treatment.”
Insightec was the main sponsor of the meeting.
Advances in Contrast Ultrasound International Bubble Conference
The 39th International Bubble Conference was held in Chicago on September 10th and 11th, 2025. There were 140 attendees, somewhat fewer than previous years, with a mix of 70% academic and 30% industry representatives.
“Exciting progress is being made on therapeutic applications of contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) using low intensity ultrasound,” said Microvascular Therapeutics CEO and Professor of Medical Imaging and Biomedical Engineering at the University of Arizona College of Medicine Evan Unger, MD, who attended the conference. “The focused ultrasound presentation from Toronto was especially encouraging.”
Ten presentations included applications of therapeutic ultrasound.
- “Chemotherapy and Sonoporation for Treating Pancreatic Cancer: An Ongoing Phase 2, Clinical Trial” by Fleming Forsberg, PhD, from Thomas Jefferson University. Preliminary results from this clinical trial (NCT04821284) using sonoporation plus standard of care chemotherapy to treat pancreatic cancer show that sonoporation with a diagnostic transducer decreased interstitial pressure within the tumor and decreased tumor biomarker CA-19-9; however, there has been no convincing increase in survival.
- “CEUS-Enhanced Cytology Allows for the Early Detection of Pancreatic Dysplasia and Cancer” by Dan Adam, PhD, from Haifa, Israel. Endoscopic cannulation of the pancreatic duct followed by 10 minutes of low-intensity insonation of the pancreas during infusion of microbubbles (MBs) may be used to detect early-stage pancreatic cancer. Greater than 500 pancreatic cells have been obtained.
- “Microbubble Augmentation of Radiotherapy: TJU Clinical Trial Updates” by John Eisenbrey, PhD, from Thomas Jefferson University. In this clinical trial (NCT03199274), patients with hepatocellular carcinoma are treated with radioembolization. Sonoporation is then performed after intravenous administration of Optison, and diagnostic ultrasound is used to cavitate the MB within tumor tissue. Early results show encouraging increases in survival.
- “First-in-Human Trial of Cavitation Therapy for Critical Limb Ischemia” by Jonathan Lindner, MD, from the University of Virginia. This clinical trial (NCT05749250) is producing encouraging data showing that the treatment leads to wound healing in patients with critical limb ischemia.
- “Sonoreperfusion with Fibrin-Targeted Phase Shift Microbubbles for the Treatment of Microvascular Obstruction” by Soheb Anwar Mohammed, PhD, from the University of Pittsburgh. Porcine studies in a model of acute myocardial infarction show that sonoreperfusion of targeted phase-shift microbubbles (PSMBs) restores myocardial flow and decreases infarct damage better than other MBs. The product being tested is made by Microvascular Therapeutics.
- “Sonothrombolysis in STEMI: The Ongoing Story” by Otto Kamp, MD, PhD, from VU University Medical Center in Amsterdam. Fibrin-targeted PSMBs are showing promise for sonothrombolysis, especially in hard, retracted clots and in patients with an ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) for whom electrocardiogram changes do not resolve after an intervention.
- “Effects of Cavitating Microbubbles on Cell Functions: Ca2+ Influx and Transient Gene Expression Changes” by Anurag Paranjape, PhD, from the University of Pittsburgh. Ca2+ influx was required for the increase in permeability, and Ca2+ influx activated endothelial Nitric Oxide Synthase.
- “Vascular Drug Delivery with Monodisperse Microbubbles: Does Size Matter?” by Klazina Kooiman, PhD, from Erasmus Medical Center in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. After studying four different sizes of MB at 2 MHz with 10 cycles at 22 Kpa, Dr. Kooiman determined that size is important and may be related to resonant properties.
- “Update on Using MR-guided Focused Ultrasound and Temozolomide to Treat Brain Tumors” by Ying Meng, MD, from the University of Toronto. An upcoming publication promises to show encouraging signs of increased survival with this treatment.
- “MVT-100 – A New Ultrasound Contrast Agent” by Evan Unger, MD, from the University of Arizona and Microvascular Therapeutics. In a head-to-head study comparing Definity with a new ultrasound contrast agent, MVT-100 produced significantly better contrast and significantly less shadowing as determined by three blinded echocardiographers. MVT-100’s sizing profile is essentially monodispersed, should eliminate back pain (a side effect of Definity), and is stored at room temperature (Definity is refrigerated).
Several manufacturers gave presentations, including GE, Bracco, Lantheus, Philips, and others.
The next International Bubble Conference, its 40th Anniversary, will be held September 4–5, 2026.
The Foundation thanks Dr. Unger for submitting this meeting report.
Up-To-Date on Neurosonology
On September 10–11, “Up to Date on Neurosonology – Bridging Science and Cinema – Ultrasound from Diagnosis to Therapy” brought together more than 100 experts in neurology, neurosurgery, imaging, and research in Castelfranco Emilia, Italy. The unique setting was the town’s historic cinema, which is now celebrating its 50th anniversary. The international group of speakers, industry partners, and innovators sought to blend science, art, and cinema.
Neurosonology is the use of various ultrasound modalities to visualize vascular structures and blood flow in the brain and nervous system for the purposes of diagnosis, treatment monitoring, and risk assessment. For the first time at a neurosonology-focused meeting, therapeutic applications of ultrasound were featured as a central theme — marking an important evolution in the scientific conversation.
Sponsored in part by the Focused Ultrasound Foundation, the event not only broadened the clinical and scientific scope of neurosonology but also opened a dialogue with the wider community. The cinema setting gave unique value to the images of neurosonology and technological innovation, highlighting a discipline in constant evolution. The meeting organizers — Dr. Giovanni Malferrari, Dr. Vincenzo Inchingolo, Dr. Francesco Prada , Prof. Maura Pugliatti, and Dr. Nicola Merli — created a truly visionary platform for discussion and collaboration.
The program blended medical science with reflections from philosophers and film critics and saw the active participation of local and regional institutions — including the Mayor of Castelfranco Emilia and the former Mayor of Modena (now President of Health Policies and Social Policies of the Emilia-Romagna Region), the President of the Culture Commission of the Emilia-Romagna Region, and representatives from the Universities of Bologna, Modena, Padova, and Ferrara – particularly from their neurology departments. A particularly appreciated feature was the interactive format: Speakers remained available during breaks for open conversations with participants, fostering idea exchange and new collaborative opportunities.
Overall, the meeting addressed a wide spectrum of topics: from vascular diagnostics—still a cornerstone and irreplaceable tool—to the most advanced and visionary developments, such as focused ultrasound, cerebral pulsing, ultra–high frame rate imaging, and emerging therapeutic applications. Sessions highlighted not only technological progress but also the growing clinical value of tools that are reshaping the approach to neurological diseases.
Foundation Consultant Francesco Prada, MD, (Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Neurologico C. Besta, Milan) presented new insights on the role of focused ultrasound in neuro-oncology. He was joined by Dr. Paolo Cabras (University of Strasbourg/Image-Guided Therapy) and Dr. Vincent Hingot (Sorbonne University/Resolve Stroke), who shared emerging perspectives on noninvasive brain therapy, neurovascular modulation, and future directions in therapeutic ultrasound.
“For two days, the cinema transformed into a venue of science and innovation: an unconventional setting yet perfectly aligned with the ‘images in motion’ central theme,” said Dr. Malferrari. “The cinema is also easily accessible, well served by public transport, such as trains, and close to Bologna airport. It is equipped with two rooms that are technically cutting edge, with the best audio-visual systems on the market that can communicate with each other in real time plus a large outdoor area suitable for breaks and coffee breaks. This cultural backdrop enriched the scientific dialogue, combining rigorous clinical discussion with the evocative power of the cinematic environment.”
With its multifaceted approach to combining technology, science, humanities, and civic engagement, the event provided a powerful example of how therapeutic innovation can be integrated into a broader cultural and societal context.
“This meeting showed how neurosonology can bridge disciplines from stroke care to neuro-oncology and therapeutic innovation,” said Dr. Inchingolo. “In such an engaging format, it demonstrated that ultrasound is not only a diagnostic tool but also an evolving language to shape the future of Medical Science.”
The success of the initiative was reflected in the enthusiastic feedback and numerous requests to repeat the experience in the future. Many participants emphasized the importance of such events, capable of blending clinical updates, research, and technological innovation in a transversal and engaging format. Beyond disseminating state-of-the-art knowledge, the meeting also inspired younger colleagues to engage more actively in research, paving the way for a new generation of scientists ready to embrace the challenges of innovation.
The Foundation thanks Dr. Prada and his colleagues for providing this meeting report.
2025 IEEE Brain Discovery & Neurotechnology Workshop
This IEEE workshop was held September 12 – 13, 2025, on the campus of Simon Fraser University in Vancouver, BC, Canada. Its goal was to convene researchers and clinicians from academia, industry, and health care to highlight innovative brain research methods, especially new discoveries and engineering solutions.
The workshop program is designed around three tracks: emerging neurotechnologies, machine learning and computer paradigms for brain discovery, and clinical applications and impact. Each track begins with a keynote speaker followed by invited speakers who present their work in each topic area. Finally, panel discussions covered the ethical implications of neurotechnology, the development of standards, clinical priorities and challenges, and future growth areas.
Elisa Konofagou, PhD, from Columbia University, was the Track 1 Keynote Speaker on Friday. Her talk was titled “Ultrasound Neuromodulation of the Central and Peripheral Nervous System Towards Pain Treatment.”
The full program is available here.
Cardiovascular and Interventional Radiological Society of Europe (CIRSE) Annual Congress
The 40th annual celebration of CIRSE was held in Barcelona, Spain, from September 13–17, 2025. All content is now available On Demand. Focused ultrasound was included in many of the presentations and posters, including the following:
Presentations (5)
- 141. 2 Histotripsy for treatment of pancreatic adenocarcinoma: GANNON first-in-human feasibility trial design by S. Sánchez-Cabús (Session: Meet the PI: Cutting-Edge Trials in IO)
- 172.4 High-intensity focused ultrasound by D. Woodrum (Session: Focal Prostate Cancer Therapy)
- 275.3 Uterine fibroids by D. Wells (Session: Women’s Health)
- 466.1 The HistoSonics system for treatment of primary solid renal tumours using histotripsy: First report of technical success and safety profile from the CAIN trial by T. Wah (Session: First@CIRSE)
- 467.4 Egyptian experience in pancreatic cancer locoregional intervention (HIFU & IRE) by M. Hamed Shaaban (Session: Advancing IR Together – Current Status of IR in Egypt)
Posters (9)
- P-0488 Understanding histotripsy aberration offsets in the liver from acoustic simulations of human anatomy by K. Falk
- P-0533 Exploring the immunomodulatory effects of image-guided ablation and histotripsy by V. Chan
- P-0534 Histotripsy: a revolutionary non-invasive approach to cancer treatment by H. Ng
- P-0735 Interventional neuro-oncology: expanding the frontiers of image-guided therapy by F. Cornelius
- P-0766 Patient experience of participation within the CAIN trial, a phase I clinical trial evaluating the effectiveness and safety profile of the HistoSonics histotripsy system in treating primary solid renal tumours by J. Brandon
- P-0770 Recent advances in histotripsy: current evidence and future directions by M. Emlemdi
- P-1114 Enhancing treatment outcomes of small liver tumors invisible on non-contrast CT and ultrasound utilizing coil-assisted CT-guided ablation by Y. M. Alahmad
- P-1130 Cosmetic venous treatments: the “opportunity” for interventional radiologists by P. Gestri Mora
- P-1132 Overview of ablation techniques in interventional radiology: which one, when, and why? by I. Anastasiadou
Satellite Symposia
HistoSonics sponsored a satellite symposium titled “Histotripsy’s emerging role for liver tumors: local tumor control, safety, and patient case reviews with histotripsy experts.” The four presentations at this session included:
- 310.1 Introduction to histotripsy and the unique mechanism of action by P. Laeseke
- 310.2 Histotripsy use case: safety and patient case reviews by T. Ziemlewicz
- 310.3 Histotripsy clinical research: current status and future plan by by S. Sánchez-Cabús
- 310.4 Q&A with J. Vidal-Jové
Search the full program for your own key words or areas of interest (login is required to access full abstract information).
In 2026, CIRSE will be held September 5–9 in Copenhagen, Denmark.
See Media Coverage in Interventional News
IEEE 2025 International Ultrasonics Symposium (IUS)
IEEE IUS was held September 15– 18, 2025, in Utrecht, The Netherlands, with an attendance of about 150 academic researchers, industry representatives, and clinicians. Various mechanisms of focused ultrasound were featured in one invited talk, several short courses, and more than 100 posters and technical presentations. IEEE, the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, is a global community for technology professionals (especially engineers and technologists).
Zhen Xu, PhD, the Li Ka-Shing Endowed Professor of Biomedical Engineering and a professor of radiology and neurosurgery at the University of Michigan, presented the invited talk, “Histotripsy Instrumentation for Non-invasive Cancer Treatment,” and the audience showed high interest in this topic.
Three short courses related to the field of focused ultrasound included:
- Therapeutic Applications of Focused Ultrasound: From Biophysics to Clinical
- Hydrophone Measurements for Biomedical Ultrasound Applications
- Bridging Research and Industry in Ultrasound: Practical Insights for Emerging Innovators
Searching the program for virtual posters and technical presentations produces the following number of hits:
- Focused Ultrasound: 40
- Microbubble: 30
- Cavitation: 25
- Histotripsy: 16
- Sonodynamic: 5
- Blood-brain barrier or BBB opening: 6
- HIFU: 4
- LIFU: 3
- MRgFUS: 2
- Sonobiopsy: 1
Search the Full Program for your own key words or areas of interest.
Industry sponsors and participants included Verasonics, Image Guided Therapy, Imasonic, Onda, Open Water, Sonic Concepts, and E&I, among many others.
On Monday, September 15, the Dutch Association of Medical Ultrasound hosted tours of the research facilities at five leading universities across the Netherlands, including UMC Utrecht, a Focused Ultrasound Center of Excellence.
IEEE’s 2026 International Ultrasonics Symposium will be held in Raleigh, North Carolina, USA.
The Foundation thanks Dr. Xu for assistance with this meeting report.
American Society of Functional Neuroradiology (ASFNR)
ASFNR 2025 was held September 18–21 in Austin, Texas. Focused ultrasound was a featured topic at this meeting, which is attended by radiologists, neuroradiologists, physicists, and scientists who practice or have a special interest in functional neuroradiology.
Mahmud Mossa-Basha, MD, professor of radiology, vice chair of Clinical Research and Clinical Transformation, co-director of the Research Vascular Imaging Lab, and the Ellsworth C. and Nancy D. Alvord Endowed Chair in Neuro-oncology at the University of Washington,* and Edson Amaro, MD, head of Global Advanced Technologies for Equity at Hospital Albert Einstein and an associate professor of radiology at the University of São Paulo, Brazil, led a special session on transcranial focused ultrasound. The session included three presentations followed by a panel discussion.
- The Role of the Neuroradiologist in Transcranial Focused Ultrasound: HIFU, LIFU, and the BBB by Bhavya Shah, MD (UT Southwestern)
- The Impact on Patients by Michael Ensler and his wife (a patient treated by Dr. Shah), interviewed by Timothy Kaufman, MD, MS (Mayo Clinic)
- The Role of the Neurologist in MRgHIFU by Drew Kern, MD (University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus)
- Expert Panel Discussion featuring Bhavya Shah, MD, (UT Southwestern) and Timothy Kaufmann, MD, MS, (Mayo Clinic)
“The session provided great insights into the increasing applications and clinical value of transcranial focused ultrasound in improving patient outcomes while minimizing morbidities and complications that may result from open surgery,” said Dr. Mossa-Basha. “Especially enlightening were discussions with patients and their family members in living with essential tremors, and how HIFU drastically improved their quality of life with immediate results and a very short recovery. The ASFNR looks forward to continued utilization and progression of applications of transcranial focused ultrasound as the understanding and education around this technology increases amongst physicians and patients alike.”
ASFNR 2026 will be held October 9–12 in Newport Beach, California.
The Foundation thanks Dr. Mossa-Basha for assistance with this report. *On November 1, he will begin a new position as chair of radiology at the University of Alabama Birmingham.
Veterinary Cancer Society (VCS) Annual Conference
VCS held its annual conference in Salt Lake City, Utah, from September 25–27, 2025. The society was formed in 1976 as a professional organization dedicated specifically to veterinary oncology. With more 1,500 specialists in medical, surgical, and radiation oncology, as well as internists, pathologists, and general practitioners from around the world, the annual meeting seeks to educate and encourage research collaboration among VCS members.
Philip Bergman, DVM, MS, PhD, DACVIM-Oncology, the Foundation’s Veterinary Program Director, and Jenna Osborn, PhD, a research project manager at the Foundation attended VCS 2025, and the Foundation sponsored a booth in the exhibit hall.
Joanne Tuohy, DVM, PhD, assistant professor of surgical oncology in the Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences at Virginia Tech, presented a Foundation-funded research poster titled, “Histotripsy Focused Ultrasound Ablation of Canine Osteosarcoma: Findings from Veterinary Clinical Trials.”
“It was a fantastic meeting. There was a lot of interest in the Foundation booth and in focused ultrasound,” said Dr. Osborn. “It was great to have Dr. Tuohy present to showcase their incredible work and highlight a current application of focused ultrasound in the veterinary space.”
American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) Annual Meeting
ASTRO’s 67th Annual Meeting was held September 27 through October 1 in San Francisco, California. With a theme of “Rediscovering Radiation Medicine and Exploring New Indications,” about 9,000 professionals attend this premier scientific event for radiation oncology each year.
HistoSonics hosted an educational dinner on the topic of “Next-Generation Beam Therapies: Integrating Histotripsy and Radiation for Treatment Options.” The speakers were HistoSonics’ Medical Director and Clinical Professor at Northwell Health Joseph Herman, MD, and Ravi Shridhar, MD, PhD, a radiation oncologist at AdventHealth in Florida.
The following abstracts may be of interest to the field. Full text for each can be found by searching the Red Journal abstract issue.
Abstracts (4)
- 1073: Second-Line Radiation Therapy for Locally Recurrent Prostate Cancer after Focal Therapy: A Single Institution Matched-Pair Analysis
- 2416: Salvage Proton Therapy after Primary Cryosurgery or HIFU for Prostate Cancer
- 3223: Real World Utilization of Salvage Radiotherapy (SRT) in Biochemically Recurrent (BCR) Prostate Cancer Patients
- 3540: Reirradiation with SBRT in Radiorecurrent Prostate Cancer – Impact on Disease Control and Quality of Life Outcomes
American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Advances in Pancreatic Cancer Research — Emerging Science Driving Transformative Solutions
AACR hosted this special in-person conference on pancreatic cancer research from September 28–October 1 in Boston, Massachusetts. The meeting website notes that conference content was recorded and will be made available as an on-demand program. The proceedings have been published in the journal Cancer Research.
Two abstracts may be of interest to the focused ultrasound community:
Abstract A068: A phase 2 study to investigate the efficacy and safety of acoustic cluster therapy with modified FOLFIRINOX in patients with locally advanced pancreatic cancer by Erin Pierce, Matt Siegel, Katie Morgan, S. Danielle. Legrand, Ragnar Bendiksen, Nicola Little, Amir Snapir, and Erkut Borazanci (HonorHealth Research Institute in Scottsdale, Arizona)
Abstract B033: Targeting NELFE using antisense oligonucelotides reduces tumor burden and increases overall survival in vivo by Brittany N. Ruiz, Alvaro Lucci, Laura M. Reynolds, Pongsakorn Choochuen, Corinne Wessner, Christine Wiktor, Sarah Hynd, Christoph Eckert, Meghan Grim, Avinoam Nevler, Harish Lavu, Charles Yeo, Matthias M. Gaida, Elda Grabocka, John Eisenbrey, and Hien Dang (Thomas Jefferson University)