A non‑heat electrical treatment for tumors that can’t be removed by surgery
Commercialization of Algorithmic Non-thermal Ablation Technology for the Treatment of Inoperable Tumors
This project is developing a non‑thermal electric device to treat people with hard‑to‑remove lung, liver, or pancreatic tumors.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Gradient Medical, INC. NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Raleigh, UNITED STATES) |
| Project ID | NIH-11316268 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
The team is building a medical device that uses ultrashort, high‑intensity electrical pulses to kill tumor cells without heating surrounding tissue. Because it does not rely on heat, the approach aims to treat tumors that sit next to blood vessels, ducts, or nerves where surgery or thermal ablation is unsafe. The technology has been used in over 150 veterinary cancer cases and tested in more than 70 large animal models, and this work focuses on making a commercial pulse generator and preparing the device for clinical use. The plan includes engineering, safety testing, and steps toward regulatory approval and clinical deployment.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with primary lung, liver, or pancreatic tumors that are considered inoperable because of their location near major blood vessels, ducts, or nerves would be the most likely candidates.
Not a fit: Patients whose cancers can be safely removed with standard surgery or who have widely metastatic disease are unlikely to benefit from this focused ablation approach.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could provide a new option to destroy tumors that are too risky to remove surgically, while sparing nearby vital structures.
How similar studies have performed: Related non‑thermal electrical ablation techniques (like irreversible electroporation) have seen some clinical use and the company reports positive results in veterinary and large animal studies, but this particular device is newer and moving toward human use.
Where this research is happening
Raleigh, UNITED STATES
- Gradient Medical, INC. — Raleigh, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Fong, Jordan — Gradient Medical, INC.
- Study coordinator: Fong, Jordan
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.