The COVID-19 pandemic has dramatically impacted all our lives, and the focused ultrasound community is no exception. In early 2020, laboratories around the world were shuttered and clinical trials were paused, resulting in a costly loss in resources and delays of important research that will prolong timelines for promising therapeutic advances. Activities that could be conducted virtually – lab meetings, patient consults, and business development meetings, for example – continued. With restrictions easing in recent months, laboratories are reopening, clinical trials are restarting, and some employees are returning to offices.
As the healthcare system seeks to reopen, focused ultrasound is well positioned to help address the challenges of the “new normal.” Treatments are noninvasive, with no incisions and decreased complications, and can be performed on an outpatient basis, thereby not requiring much-needed hospital beds. And, without ionizing radiation and no systemic toxicity, focused ultrasound is less likely to impair a patient’s immune system, which could make them more susceptible to COVID-19 or other pathogens.
Although this global crisis is not yet over, the focused ultrasound community has demonstrated great resilience throughout 2020. We will all continue to rise to face the challenges ahead knowing that patients around the world are counting on us to help make this groundbreaking therapeutic technology widely available in the shortest amount of time – saving time, saving lives.
We are gratified and amazed by the progress made in the field, but considerable work remains. This mission is why we launched a campaign to raise $60 million to support research and activities for the next five years that will have an extraordinary impact on millions of lives. Single and multiyear gifts will support crucial work in neurological conditions, psychiatric disorders, and cancer and cancer immunotherapy. And, thanks to an anonymous donor, gifts made to the Foundation in 2021 will be matched 1-for-1, up to $2 million.
To date, we have secured more than $41 million against our $60 million goal. We very much appreciate your interest and hope you will consider a gift to support the Foundation’s lifesaving mission.