Grant: Foundation Grant

Focused ultrasound is a non-invasive means to deliver energy into targeted tissue within the body. At high power levels, focused ultrasound, when combined with quantitative MR imaging for on-line guidance, can be used to produce well-defined regions of thermal coagulation. The first generation of clinical focused ultrasound devices showed major benefits for the health care system through (1) reduced recovery times and hospital stays, (2) lower rates of complications such as infection, and (3) only light sedation or local anaesthesia needed for outpatient treatment. Our vision for the next decade of focused ultrasound development centres on the discoveries that focused ultrasound can be used for many more clinical indications if other non-thermal effects of ultrasound are used. If this research is even partially successful, it will have a huge impact on patient care by addressing the knowledge gap between the mechanisms involved with the non-thermal bio-effects and by translating these treatments to wide clinical use. It would provide new treatments that are non-invasive and more effective as well as that have lower complication rates and shorter recovery times. These treatments could be used for many brain and body disorders, including brain tumours, Alzheimer's Disease, embolic stroke and deep vein thrombosis.