How focused ultrasound affects the brain
Biophysical and Neural Basis of Focused Ultrasound Stimulation
['FUNDING_R01'] · VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTER · NIH-10700347
Researchers are testing how precisely targeted focused ultrasound can change brain activity to help people with neurological conditions.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_R01'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTER (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (NASHVILLE, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-10700347 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
This project uses MRI-guided focused ultrasound to stimulate tiny, deep brain regions while mapping where the beam goes with MR-ARFI and observing whole-brain responses with fMRI. The team records electrical activity across cells and circuits using multiunit arrays in animal models and links those signals to behavior. They will vary dose and timing to find when ultrasound excites versus suppresses neurons and how those effects spread through networks. The work aims to define mechanisms and safety parameters that could guide future human treatments.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with neurological conditions that might be treated by brain stimulation—such as movement disorders, chronic pain, or certain psychiatric conditions—would be the eventual candidates for therapies developed from this work.
Not a fit: Patients seeking an immediate treatment benefit should not expect direct help from this mechanistic research, especially if their condition is unrelated to modifiable brain circuits.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could enable a noninvasive, highly targeted form of brain stimulation for movement disorders, pain, mood disorders, and other neurological conditions.
How similar studies have performed: Prior animal and early human experiments show focused ultrasound can change brain activity, but clinical benefits and optimal protocols remain unproven.
Where this research is happening
NASHVILLE, UNITED STATES
- VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTER — NASHVILLE, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: CASKEY, CHARLES F — VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTER
- Study coordinator: CASKEY, CHARLES F
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.