First US Parkinson's Dyskinesia Patients Treated 

Parkinson's Patient No Longer Just Spinning Her Wheels

For Kimberly Spletter, bike rides had always been a source of relaxation, until she was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease and could no longer safely balance on her bike. For the last couple years, she had turned to riding a stationary bike instead, as the uncontrollable movements associated with the illness even compromised her ability to walk.

Fortunately, Kimberly was referred to neurologist Dr. Paul Fishman at the University of Maryland, who suggested she consider a new study using focused ultrasound. The procedure would be non-invasive and could offer symptom relief, which would be life-changing for Kimberly. But, it was experimental; she would be one of the first patients in the US to try it for her dyskinesia. 

Alzheimer's Workshop to Develop Research Roadmap

The Foundation hosted a workshop in Bethesda September 17-18 to discuss the state of the field, current challenges, and future research directions for using focused ultrasound to treat Alzheimer’s disease. The meeting was an ideal forum for advanced collaboration in which an invited group of experts reviewed past studies, presented current data, and shared new ideas. Participants included focused ultrasound technical experts, leading Alzheimer’s neurosurgeons, neurologists, neuroscientists, neuroradiologists, and representatives from FDA, medical research foundations, and industry. A white paper outlining the workshop's specific outcomes will be available soon. 

Foundation Hosts Cancer Seminar

Cancer & The Elephant: The Unfortunate Consequence of Cancer as a Metaphor will be hosted by the Focused Ultrasound Foundation and the University of Virginia Cancer Center Tuesday, October 6, 2015.

Featured speaker Samuel Hellman, MD, is the former Dean of the University of Chicago School of Medicine and former Physician-in-Chief at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center. A supporter and advocate of multidisciplinary therapy, Dr. Hellman’s research on breast cancer, prostate cancer, and lymphoma among others has been published in more than 250 scientific articles.

The Charlottesville event will begin at 5:30 pm, and those interested in attending should contact Catherine Zimmerman via email.

Brigham and Women's: A Hub for FUS Research

As many as 50 researchers in three laboratories span the Boston campus of Brigham and Women’s Hospital where, in conjunction with Harvard Medical School, they are pioneering innovative uses of focused ultrasound from bench to bedside.

The Focused Ultrasound Laboratory was created in the early 1990’s when Ferenc Jolesz invited Kullervo Hynynen to join him and GE Medical Systems to develop MRI-guided focused ultrasound. This collaboration between Dr. Hynynen, an experienced researcher of therapeutic ultrasound, Dr. Jolesz, who developed MRI-guided laser ablation, and the MR/ultrasound engineers at GE (and later from Insightec) established a program that has produced important contributions for more than two decades.

Jolesz Research Legacy Continues 

With the unexpected death of their mentor, Dr. Ferenc Jolesz, in December 2014, the programs that grew under his tutelage at Brigham & Women's continue, and his legacy of progress endures through the focused ultrasound scientists and clinicians he trained and inspired. With teams led by Clare Tempany, MD, Nathan McDannold, PhD, and Seung-Schik Yoo, PhD, MBA, the innovations created by the “Father of MR-Guided Focused Ultrasound” continue to flourish.

We interviewed these BWH research leaders to find out more about their current projects and future plans. Each profile includes a Q & A session with the investigator.

Foundation Research Award Update: Pediatric Neurological Disorders

James Drake, MD, Head of Neurosurgery at the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto, Canada recently completed his Foundation-funded research project, “Non-Invasive Treatment of Pediatric Neurological Disorders using MR-guided Focused Ultrasound.”

After performing acoustic characterization of pediatric skulls, the group studied sound propagation near the skulls to develop a corresponding refocusing algorithm. They then designed an in vivo neonate setup for FUS treatment of pediatric intraventricular hemorrhage.

“Dr. Drake’s project takes a large step toward realizing focused ultrasound as a treatment option for pediatric patients," said Matt Eames, PhD, the Foundation’s Director of Extramural Research. The study was co-funded by the Canadian government at the level of $1.5 million.

3rd Quarter Research Awards

Two projects have been selected for funding for the 3rd quarter of 2015. The first is Dr. James Drake’s work at the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto. His group will establish an international database for pediatric focused ultrasound treatment. In urology, Dr. George Schade at the University of Washington will be assessing the use of histotripsy for treating renal tumors. 

ISTU 2016 Abstract Submission Now Open

Abstracts are now being accepted for the 16th annual meeting of the International Society of Therapeutic Ultrasound (ISTU), to be held March 14-16, 2016 in Tel Aviv, Israel. The conference will include talks on advances in focused ultrasound technology and clinical practice. In addition, for the first time, a brain treatment taking place at Rambam Hospital will be broadcast live during the second day of the conference.

Abstract submission is now open, and papers are encouraged on modelling, physics, and technology in the field of therapeutic ultrasound, as well as its pre-clinical and clinical applications. 

Research Roundup

Advances in focused ultrasound brain treatment are ongoing. Efforts to expand the treatment envelope in the brain are addressed in this month’s research roundup. New arrays for transcranial sonication, efficiency of acoustic energy delivery through the skull, and thalamotomy for treating Parkinson’s disease are included. In hypertension, a Chinese group has begun clinical trials for renal denervation.

JTU Article of the Month: Temperature Monitoring in Abdominal Fat in Patients with Fibroids

“T2-based temperature monitoring in abdominal fat during MR-guided focused ultrasound treatment of patients with uterine fibroids” highlights the September issue of The Journal of Therapeutic Ultrasound. When treating fibroids with focused ultrasound, it is important to measure near-field heating in subcutaneous fat. During sonication, T2 mapping can be used to monitor temperature increases, which can be sufficiently high or accumulate to injure tissues. Proper monitoring can shorten treatments and improve safety. The full-text, open-access article is available on the JTU website.

Philips Strategically Invests in Focused Ultrasound

Philips is reorganizing into a pure health technology company, with focused ultrasound as an important offering in their range of solutions throughout the health continuum of prevention, diagnosis, and treatment. As part of this evolution, they are becoming more strategic with how they invest in the technology.

Christopher Busch, PhD, General Manager of Philips Radiation Oncology Solutions & MR Therapy, met with the Foundation in August to review their current focused ultrasound program, vision for the future, and some of the challenges and opportunities for an established global company in this emerging field. Busch explains that they are shifting their focus from technical development to evidence building and commercial success for a sustainable value proposition for focused ultrasound.

“We continue to support the commercialization of our Sonalleve systems for bone and fibroids,” says Busch. “When it comes to expanding to new applications, our preferred approach is to partner with organizations that have compelling proprietary technology and expertise within their segment and offer them an opportunity to accelerate required technology and clinical developments and to leverage our penetration in imaging suites around the world.”

Profound Partners with Philips for Prostate

As announced this summer by Philips and Toronto-based Profound Medical, the two companies will integrate Profound’s TULSA (Transurethral Ultrasound Ablation) technology onto Philips’ 3T MRI systems. TULSA is designed to provide minimally invasive, single session whole gland ablation for patients with prostate cancer.

Theraclion to Begin Commercial Thyroid Treatments in Europe

Theraclion announced that its echotherapy treatment for thyroid nodules will soon be available at three sites in Germany. Because Germany is a traditionally low iodine region, it results in 100,000 surgeries and 50,000 radioiodine procedures annually. Theraclion is hoping to replace these procedures—and many of the thyroidectomies—with the non-invasive Echopulse therapy.

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