Key Points
- The Kissick Family Foundation believes in bold philanthropy and investing in scientific research, especially for neurodegenerative diseases.
- Learn more about why this foundation is passionate about advancing focused ultrasound.
The team at the Kissick Family Foundation aims to catalyze change through bold and dynamic philanthropy. They provide critical early support for the leaders, researchers, and entrepreneurs who are finding cures, repairing catastrophic damage to the planet, and changing entire fields of study. They invest in cutting-edge scientific research and awareness building for neurodegenerative diseases, with a focus on frontotemporal dementia (FTD). The Foundation is equally committed to backing transformative ideas in the climate space, specifically ocean-based solutions with the potential to mitigate and reverse harm to the planet.
Learn more about why the Kissick Family Foundation supports the Focused Ultrasound Foundation.
How did you first hear about the Foundation?
We first learned about the Focused Ultrasound Foundation through Michael Milken, who serves on its Board of Directors, and Lorraine Spurge, who is a member of its Council. Their advocacy for medical innovation and their belief in focused ultrasound’s potential encouraged us to learn more and ultimately get involved.
What moved you to get involved?
Our founding president, father, and husband, John Kissick, had FTD, which is what led our family foundation to invest in dementia research and awareness building. He also lived with essential tremor for most of his adult life. Learning that essential tremor was one of the first FDA-approved clinical applications for focused ultrasound and seeing videos of its impact on patients was incredibly moving. That, along with its potential applications in neurodegenerative diseases, made supporting the Foundation a natural fit for us.
What excites you most about focused ultrasound?
What stands out to us is the potential for focused ultrasound to provide noninvasive treatment options for conditions that currently have few effective solutions. Seeing how it has already transformed the treatment of essential tremor as well as early research indicating the beneficial effects on Alzheimer’s disease from repeated focused ultrasound–mediated blood-brain barrier opening gives us hope for what it could do across other neurodegenerative diseases like FTD. The technology is advancing rapidly, and its possibilities continue to expand.
Why do you care about focused ultrasound?
Our interest is deeply personal. Watching our father and husband navigate FTD and essential tremor gave us firsthand insight into the challenges these conditions present. The idea that a noninvasive treatment could improve the lives of others facing similar struggles is something we feel strongly about supporting.
What impact do you hope to achieve through your philanthropy?
Our approach to philanthropy is to be nimble, creative, and focused on where our funding can be most urgent and productive. In the medical field, we hope to accelerate research that leads to real, tangible improvements in the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases. Our goal is to help bring promising discoveries closer to the people who need them most, whether through advancing clinical trials, supporting new treatment pathways, or raising awareness about innovative approaches.
What do you tell others about the Foundation?
The Focused Ultrasound Foundation is helping to push the boundaries of medical treatment in a way that feels both practical and forward-thinking. They are supporting research that has the potential to change the way we approach some of the most challenging diseases.
What would you tell someone who is considering making a gift to the Foundation?
We would encourage them to look at the real-world impact focused ultrasound is already having for conditions like tremors, prostate cancer, fibroids, and more. It’s an exciting technology with the potential to make a real difference, and supporting the Foundation helps move these innovations forward.