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Annual lab party Annual lab party An all-star team all in one place. May 2, 2025
Audri Dara defended her MS thesis Audri Dara defended her MS thesis Audri has developed an approach to release drugs in brain tumors at high concentration. The approach is based on ultrasound-sensitive nanoparticle carriers. March 14, 2025
Article on MRI-free targeting published Article on MRI-free targeting published This article demonstrates deep brain targeting based on anatomical landmarks of the head. January 12, 2025
Article on treatments of depression published Article on treatments of depression published This article shows that Diadem applied to the subcallosal cingulate cortex provides a rapid and sustained improvement in depressive symptoms. October 18, 2024
Article on treatments of chronic pain published Article on treatments of chronic pain published This article shows that Diadem applied to the cingulate cortex provides a rapid and sustained improvement in pain intensity. August 1, 2024
Matt Wilson defended his PhD thesis Matt Wilson defended his PhD thesis Matt has developed and validated a new method for local drug release in non-human primates and defended his PhD thesis. Congratulations, Matt! June 14, 2024
Article on neural correlates of decision-making in humans published Article on neural correlates of decision-making in humans published This article shows that decisions may be graded instead of a binary, all-or-none nature. Recordings directly from the human brain show that the neural signals underlying decisions reflect varying levels of the decision-maker's confidence. May 13, 2024
Article on drug release optimization published Article on drug release optimization published This article shows how to maximize the effectiveness of drug release from ultrasound-sensitive nanoparticle carriers. March 15, 2024
Article on drug release from nanoparticle carriers published Article on drug release from nanoparticle carriers published This article shows that it is possible to use use ultrasound to effectively and safely release a drug from nanoparticle carriers in deep brain regions in non-human primates, and thus modulate choice behavior. March 9, 2024
Article featured on journal cover page Article featured on journal cover page This article was featured on the cover of Transactions on Biomedical Engineering. The cover is also available at https://www.embs.org/tbme/articles/device-for-multifocal-delivery-of-ultrasound-into-deep-brain-regions-in-humans. February 11, 2024
Featured article Featured article This article was selected as a featured article by IEEE. February 10, 2024
Article on direct modulation of tremor published Article on direct modulation of tremor published This article shows that Diadem can be used to noninvasively modulate deep brain circuits involved in tremor and directly modulate tremor behavior. February 9, 2024
Article on Diadem's correction for the head published Article on Diadem's correction for the head published This article shows that Diadem's correction for the head is critical for effective neuromodulation. February 4, 2024
Jude Werth receives the UROP fellowship Jude Werth receives the UROP fellowship Jude develops an approach to record neural activity of human brain organoids. Congratulations, Jude! January 10, 2024
Joshua Whiting joins the lab Joshua Whiting joins the lab Josh is optimizing a new approach that releases drug locally. Welcome, Josh! January 5, 2024
Article on practical correction for the ultrasound distortions by the human head published Article on practical correction for the ultrasound distortions by the human head published This article demonstrates a new, direct way to measure and compensate for the severe distortion of ultrasound by the human head and hair. December 27, 2023
Jude Werth joins the lab Jude Werth joins the lab Jude will develop an approach to record neural activity from many brain organoids simultaneously and continuously. Welcome, Jude! December 5, 2023
Diadem provides strong and durable improvement in major depression Diadem provides strong and durable improvement in major depression This article reports the use of Diadem in a first patient with major depression. Ultrasonic modulation of the subgenual cingulate robustly engaged the target, based on fMRI, and provided a rapid and sustained relief. October 28, 2023
Keisuke Tsunoda joins the lab Keisuke Tsunoda joins the lab Keisuke will develop and apply new approaches for noninvasive targeted brain stimulation. Welcome, Keisuke! October 1, 2023
Audri Dara joins the lab Audri Dara joins the lab Audri is developing a new approach that releases drug locally. Welcome, Audri! August 12, 2023
Carter Lybbert joins the lab Carter Lybbert joins the lab Carter has joined the lab to modulate coma states and other disorders of brain function. Welcome, Carter! July 20, 2023
Device for multifocal delivery of ultrasound into deep brain regions in humans Device for multifocal delivery of ultrasound into deep brain regions in humans This published article develops a device, Diadem, for noninvasive deep brain stimulation in humans. Diadem is being deployed in clinical studies targeting major depression and centralized chronic pain. June 15, 2023
Article published in the Journal of Neural Engineering Article published in the Journal of Neural Engineering This article shows that focal electric fields can be generated remotely by combining focused ultrasonic and magnetic fields. June 5, 2023
Luke Loehding receives the UROP fellowship Luke Loehding receives the UROP fellowship Luke is developing a noninvasive approach to modulate chronic pain. Congratulations, Luke! May 30, 2023
Adam Losser joins the lab Adam Losser joins the lab Adam is joining the lab as a key technician and clinical coordinator. Welcome, Adam! May 20, 2023
Article published in Brain Stimulation Article published in Brain Stimulation This paper shows that transcranial ultrasound can induce durable, neuroplastic effects in deep brain regions of task-performing non-human primates. April 21, 2023
Tom Riis defended his PhD thesis Tom Riis defended his PhD thesis Tom has completed the last step of his extremely productive journey toward the PhD. Congratulations, Tom! February 17, 2023
Effective and safe treatment of depression Effective and safe treatment of depression The deep brain therapy performed with DIADEM can be highly effective. January 5, 2023
Article published in Scientific Reports Article published in Scientific Reports This articles provides an approach to shrink focal volume using frequency superposition. December 20, 2022
Article published in iScience Article published in iScience This article provides a device that programmatically delivers focused ultrasonic waves into specified deep brain targets. November 1, 2022
Treatments of depression Treatments of depression Together with Brian Mickey, we have initiated a clinical trial to use DIADEM to treat major depression. October 13, 2022
Gabrielle Bingener is selected for Summer Program for Undergraduate Research Gabrielle Bingener is selected for Summer Program for Undergraduate Research Gabrielle will characterize the response of specific cell types to ultrasonic stimulation April 30, 2022
Aarav Parikh receives the Charles Steger Global Internship. Aarav Parikh receives the Charles Steger Global Internship. Aarav works on an approach that delivers drugs specifically at the focus of ultrasound. April 20, 2022
Anna Yarema receives the UROP fellowship Anna Yarema receives the UROP fellowship Anna works on an approach that releases drugs locally at the focus of noninvasive ultrasound. Congratulations, Anna! April 13, 2022
Platform for Remote, Multifocal Brain Interventions Platform for Remote, Multifocal Brain Interventions Remus is an noninvasive, ultrasound-based system that manipulates specified deep brain circuits on command. This practical system enables researchers and clinicians to diagnose and treat specific deep brain noninvasively yet in a targeted manner, thus embodying the promise of personalized treatments of brain disorders. We now provide the hardware and software to assemble and use the system in the Tools section. The image link on the left shows how the system can be used to modulate deep brain circuits and behavior. October 20, 2021
Article published in Ultrasonics Article published in Ultrasonics Tom's article shows the acoustic properties of human skulls as a function of specific anatomical locations. We used this information to build a practical device for ultrasonic interventions in the human brain. October 15, 2021
Grant from the Focused Ultrasound Foundation Grant from the Focused Ultrasound Foundation The lab received funding from the Focused Ultrasound Foundation to develop protocols for durable treatments of the neural circuits involved in anxiety disorders. August 20, 2021
Grant from the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke Grant from the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke The lab will participate in a project that develops human brain organoids as a new, personalized way for understanding and treating neurological disorders. August 2, 2021
Article published in IEEE Transactions on Biomedical Engineering Article published in IEEE Transactions on Biomedical Engineering Tom's article shows that the human peripheral nervous system is more effectively stimulated with ultrasound at low frequencies. This result also bolsters the notion of mechanical effects of ultrasound on excitable cells. Congratulations, Tom! May 27, 2021
Acoustic properties across the human skull Acoustic properties across the human skull This information led to the development of a new device, "Diadem", that delivers focused ultrasound into specified deep brain circuits of humans at a controlled dose. This controlled approach safely delivers into the desired circuits much higher ultrasound intensities than previously possible, thus increasing the efficacy and reproducibility of ultrasound-based interventions. April 15, 2021
Platform for incisionless, multifocal brain stimulation Platform for incisionless, multifocal brain stimulation This new system delivers transcranial focused ultrasound into specified deep brain targets remotely, on command. This paper demonstrates its application in modulating behavior in awake behaving non-human primates. March 11, 2021
Rahul Cheeniyil joins the lab Rahul Cheeniyil joins the lab Rahul will develop an entirely new approach to modulate neural activity noninvasively and in a targeted way. Welcome aboard, Rahul! January 10, 2021
Sarah Haslam joins the lab Sarah Haslam joins the lab Sarah will optimize current local drug delivery approaches. Welcome aboard, Sarah! January 6, 2021
Arjun Acharya receives his Masters degree Arjun Acharya receives his Masters degree Arjun completed the required work to receive his Masters within the Neural Engineering track. Congratulations, Arjun! December 20, 2020
Article accepted in Science Advances Article accepted in Science Advances This study shows that ultrasound, applied noninvasively to specific brain regions, can influence choice behavior of primates. March 9, 2020
Taylor Webb receives the NIH Brain Initiative F32 award Taylor Webb receives the NIH Brain Initiative F32 award Taylor performs noninvasive, targeted deep brain therapies in awake behaving primates to treat a variety of mental and neurological disorders and to learn about basic brain function. February 22, 2020
Article published in Brain Stimulation Article published in Brain Stimulation We conclude that repeated ultrasonic brain stimulation in large animals is safe. February 21, 2020
Margolis Foundation seed grant Margolis Foundation seed grant The Ben B. and Iris M. Margolis Foundation generously supported our development of brain stimulation hardware. October 31, 2019
Alex Farley receives Capstone Project award Alex Farley receives Capstone Project award Alex's project receives Capstone funding. Congratulations, Alex! September 11, 2019
NIH R00 grant NIH R00 grant The lab received funding from the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke to develop methods for precise and noninvasive modulation of the nervous system. August 20, 2019
Alex Farley receives the UROP fellowship Alex Farley receives the UROP fellowship Alex investigates the effects of ultrasonic waves on the activity of human neurons. Congratulations, Alex! July 30, 2019
Charles Steger Global Internship Program in Focused Ultrasound Charles Steger Global Internship Program in Focused Ultrasound Our high school students of the Navajo tribe, Karla Tapia and Lelah Alhemrani, have been awarded with the Charles Steger Global Internship of the Focused Ultrasound Foundation. Congratulations, Karla and Lelah! May 1, 2019
Collaboration with the Rolston lab Collaboration with the Rolston lab We investigate the effects of sonic stimulation protocols on neural activity in humans. April 2, 2019
Preprint of sonic neurostimulation in non-human primates Preprint of sonic neurostimulation in non-human primates We found that transcranial ultrasound is capable of modulating neurons to the extent of biasing choice behavior of non-human primates. A demonstration of tangible, brain-region-specific effects on behavior of primates constitutes a critical step toward applying this noninvasive neuromodulation method in investigations of how specific neural circuits are involved in specific behaviors or disease signs. March 25, 2019
Collaboration with the Shcheglovitov lab Collaboration with the Shcheglovitov lab We investigate the effects of sonic stimulation protocols on the activity of human neurons. November 11, 2018
Collaboration with the Vinberg lab Collaboration with the Vinberg lab We investigate the effects of sonic stimulation protocols on the activity of retinal cells. October 12, 2018
Collaboration with Natalya Rapoport Collaboration with Natalya Rapoport We build on the work of Natalya Rapoport to release drugs from nanoparticle carriers focally using ultrasound. September 3, 2018
Research paper published in the Journal of Neuroscience Research paper published in the Journal of Neuroscience A remote control of cellular excitability in specific regions deep in tissue would constitute a powerful diagnostic and therapeutic tool. Ultrasound has demonstrated this promise, yet how ultrasound stimulates excitable cells has remained elusive. This study shows that ultrasound acts on tissues as a mechanical stimulus and so opens membrane ion channels. This mechanistic insight informs the design of protocols that maximize the stimulatory effects. February 28, 2018
Review article published in Neurosurgical Focus Review article published in Neurosurgical Focus The understanding of brain function and the capacity to treat neurological and psychiatric disorders rest on the ability to intervene in neuronal activity in specific brain circuits. Current methods of neuromodulation incur a tradeoff between spatial focus and the level of invasiveness. Transcranial focused ultrasound (FUS) is emerging as a neuromodulation approach that combines noninvasiveness with focus that can be relatively sharp even in regions deep in the brain. This may enable studies of the causal role of specific brain regions in specific behaviors and behavioral disorders. In addition to causal brain mapping, the spatial focus of FUS opens new avenues for treatments of neurological and psychiatric conditions. This review introduces existing and emerging FUS applications in neuromodulation, discusses the mechanisms of FUS effects on cellular excitability, considers the effects of specific stimulation parameters, and lays out the directions for future work. December 2, 2017