Royal Society Grant Awarded to Advance Focused Ultrasound for Brain Therapy Research
The Royal Society in England has awarded a prestigious research grant to support pioneering work on focused ultrasound–based therapy for brain diseases, led by Dr. Mohammad Zoofaghari. He is a member of the Wireless Sensor Network Research Group, headed by Prof. Ilangko Balasingham at The Intervention Centre, Division of Technology and Innovation.
The project aims to revolutionize how focused ultrasound treatments are delivered, particularly when multiple brain regions require simultaneous treatment. Current methods often struggle because different brain regions and skull variations respond differently to ultrasound waves, leading to uneven treatment and reduced effectiveness.
This initiative will fund a two-year international collaboration between the Intervention Centre and the University of Birmingham’s Department of Cancer and Genomic Sciences, led by Associate Professor Vinton Cheng.
To tackle this challenge, the research team is introducing cutting-edge concepts inspired by wireless communication systems, similar to those used in mobile networks. By treating each brain target as a “receiver” and each ultrasound beam as a “message,” the team will develop strategies to precisely shape, time, and coordinate signals—ensuring accurate and effective therapy delivery across multiple regions.
As part of the collaboration, advanced skull models will be developed at the University of Birmingham to mimic human skull properties. These models will then be used at Oslo University Hospital for experimental studies with focused ultrasound devices, enabling safer, more effective treatments for brain diseases.
This research marks a significant step toward smarter, adaptive therapies that could transform patient care worldwide.
Links:
The Wireless Sensor Network Research Group, headed by Prof. Ilangko Balasingham
Division of Technology and Innovation