Research Question
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What impact does utilizing sound energy have on both cancer therapies and the field of neuroscience?
Background
Getting therapeutic substances into the brain presents a formidable challenge due to the robust blood-brain and blood-cerebral spinal fluid barriers. These barriers staunchly block nearly all large molecules and an astonishing 98% of small molecules used in modern medicine. Even the tiny fraction that naturally breaches these barriers can lead to widespread systemic and off-target toxicity, creating a significant hurdle in advancing neuroscience. Overcoming these obstacles historically involved invasive stereotactic surgeries or developing new pharmaceuticals, neither of which offered precision or noninvasiveness.
However, the emergence of low-intensity transcranial focused ultrasound offers a promising solution. This cutting-edge technology allows for the noninvasive delivery of therapeutics, regardless of their size, with exceptional precision to specific points and even more broadly across the human brain. Notably, the hardware required for this procedure has earned approval from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), marking a significant leap forward in this field.
Contributions
In our lab, we have an advanced noninvasive drug delivery tool called preclinical low-intensity focused ultrasound. This method has proven highly effective in tackling glioblastoma, an exceptionally deadly form of brain cancer, and in neuromodulation. It's currently being tested in clinical trials as a crucial part of our treatment strategy.
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Furthermore, our exploration into ultrasound's applications in neuroscience has revealed a new avenue. Specifically, we have investigated how ultrasound's mechanical energy aids the crucial process of glymphatic flow, responsible for eliminating brain-produced waste materials. Disruptions in this flow can significantly impact brain health and cognitive functions.
Goals
Our central focus involves understanding ultrasound's influence on brain fluid dynamics, substance delivery, distribution, retention, clearance, and its effects on the neuroimmune system. As a result, we actively champion ultrasound as a therapeutic technique, fostering its advancement across fundamental, applied, and translational research for wider applications in various healthcare domains