Fralin Biomedical Research Institute’s 12th Annual Brain School
Fralin Biomedical Research Institute’s Brain school Focuses on Ultrasound Therapy
Table of Contents
- Fralin Biomedical Research Institute’s Brain school Focuses on Ultrasound Therapy
- Focused Ultrasound Therapy: Q&A on Fralin Biomedical Research Institute’s Brain School
- What is Focused Ultrasound and How Does it Work?
- What are the Potential Benefits of Focused Ultrasound Therapy?
- What Neurological Conditions Can Focused Ultrasound Potentially Treat?
- what is the Blood-Brain Barrier (BBB) and How Does Focused Ultrasound Affect It?
- What is the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute’s Role in Focused Ultrasound Research?
- What Can I Expect at the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute’s Brain School?
- Risks and Benefits of Focused Ultrasound Therapy
- Where can I learn more about the Brain School and focused ultrasound?
ROANOKE, Va. – The Fralin Biomedical Research Institute is set to host its 12th annual Brain School on March 10, starting at 5 p.m. This year’s event promises an engaging exploration into the therapeutic applications of focused ultrasound,a cutting-edge technology in brain research.
Annual Brain School: A Deep Dive into Brain Research
Every March, the FBRI opens its doors to the public for its annual Brain School, an event designed to educate and inspire. Attendees can expect interactive demonstrations,insightful talks,and thorough expos. This year, the spotlight shines on the therapeutic use of focused ultrasound, offering new hope for treating various neurological conditions.
Focused Ultrasound: A New Frontier in Brain Treatment
A central feature of this year’s Brain School is a panel discussion centered on research into the therapeutic use of focused ultrasound. This innovative technology holds the potential to revolutionize treatment approaches, offering:
- Treatment of chronic pain or depression with fewer side effects than oral drug delivery
- Transient opening of the blood-brain barrier for delivery of brain cancer drugs to children and adults with brain tumors
- Noninvasive treatment options to address Alzheimer’s disease
Virginia Tech stands as one of only 14 Focused Ultrasound Centers of Excellence globally, highlighting its pioneering role in this advanced field.
Expert Insights on Focused Ultrasound
Michael Friedlander, executive director of the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute, emphasizes the potential of this technology.
“Mitigating much of the risk carried by conventional neurosurgical approaches that require invading the skull,focused ultrasound remains a promising avenue for delivering therapies across a range of brain disorders. this year’s Brain School presents an possibility to engage with emerging neuro-technologies with leaders in biomedical innovation for treating a range of brain disorders.”
Michael Friedlander, executive director of the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute
what to Expect at Brain School
Beyond the focused ultrasound discussions, the Brain School offers a variety of engaging activities:
- Tours of the institute’s research facilities
- Brain-healthy food
- A focused ultrasound demonstration by Jason Raymond, research assistant professor at the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC
- A brain anatomy station run by Kristofer Rau, assistant professor at the Virginia Tech Carilion school of Medicine
- An overview of how brain scans work with small animals by Maosen Wang, research assistant professor at the Fralin Biomedical Research institute at VTC
- Expositions from the labs of Fralin biomedical Research Institute investigators Wynn Legon, Stephanie DeLuca, Ryan Purcell, Meike van der Heijden, and albert Pan
Attend the Brain School
Don’t miss this opportunity to explore the fascinating world of brain research and the potential of focused ultrasound. You can register to attend the Brain school program here. It’s free and fun for all ages!
Focused Ultrasound Therapy: Q&A on Fralin Biomedical Research Institute’s Brain School
this Q&A article explores focused ultrasound therapy based on the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute’s (FBRI) Brain School, designed to educate the public about advancements in brain research and treatment.
What is Focused Ultrasound and How Does it Work?
Focused ultrasound is a non-invasive therapeutic technology that uses ultrasound energy to target specific areas deep within the body, including the brain. It works by precisely focusing multiple beams of ultrasound on a single point, creating localized heat or mechanical effects without damaging surrounding tissues.
What are the Potential Benefits of Focused Ultrasound Therapy?
Focused ultrasound offers several potential benefits, notably in treating brain disorders:
Non-invasive: It avoids the need for conventional surgery, reducing risks and recovery time (Friedlander).
Targeted Drug Delivery: It can temporarily open the blood-brain barrier (BBB), allowing medication to reach brain tumors or other affected areas [2, 1].
Reduced Side Effects: Compared to systemic drug delivery, focused ultrasound can minimize side effects by delivering drugs directly to the target location [3].
Versatile Applications: it shows promise in treating various neurological conditions, including chronic pain, depression, Alzheimer’s disease, and brain tumors [3].
What Neurological Conditions Can Focused Ultrasound Potentially Treat?
Focused ultrasound is being investigated as a treatment for a range of neurological conditions,including:
chronic Pain and Depression: Focused ultrasound coudl offer a treatment option with fewer side effects compared to oral medications by targeting the brain regions involved in pain and mood regulation [3].
Brain Tumors: By temporarily opening the blood-brain barrier, focused ultrasound can improve the delivery of chemotherapy drugs directly to brain tumors, even in children [3].
Alzheimer’s Disease: Research is exploring the potential of focused ultrasound to stimulate the clearance of amyloid plaques, a hallmark of Alzheimer’s disease, and improve cognitive function [3].
what is the Blood-Brain Barrier (BBB) and How Does Focused Ultrasound Affect It?
The blood-brain barrier (BBB) is a protective barrier that prevents many substances, including drugs, from entering the brain from the bloodstream. Focused ultrasound can temporarily disrupt the BBB, allowing therapeutic agents to reach the brain [2, 1].The treatment uses microbubbles in conjunction with ultrasound to loosen the tight junctions of the BBB, creating temporary openings for drug delivery [2].
What is the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute’s Role in Focused Ultrasound Research?
the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute (FBRI) at Virginia Tech is a leading center for focused ultrasound research. Virginia Tech is one of only 14 Focused Ultrasound Centers of Excellence globally [3]. The FBRI’s brain School highlights ongoing research and potential applications of this technology.
What Can I Expect at the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute’s Brain School?
At the Brain School, participants can expect a variety of engaging activities, including:
Interactive demonstrations
Insightful talks from experts
Expositions of cutting-edge research
Tours of the institute’s research facilities
Focused ultrasound presentation by Jason Raymond, research assistant professor at the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC
Brain anatomy station run by Kristofer Rau, assistant professor at the Virginia tech Carilion school of Medicine
Overview of how brain scans work with small animals by Maosen Wang, research assistant professor at the Fralin Biomedical Research institute at VTC
* Expositions from the labs of Fralin biomedical Research Institute investigators Wynn Legon, Stephanie DeLuca, Ryan Purcell, Meike van der Heijden, and albert Pan
Risks and Benefits of Focused Ultrasound Therapy
| feature | Benefits | Potential Risks |
| ———————- | ———————————————————————————————————————————— | —————————————————————————————————————————————- |
| Non-invasiveness | Avoids surgery, reducing recovery time and risks like infection. (Friedlander) | While non-invasive, there can be discomfort or pain during the procedure in rare cases. |
| Targeted Delivery | delivers drugs directly to the affected area, potentially increasing effectiveness and minimizing side effects. [3] | Risk of off-target effects if the ultrasound is not precisely focused. |
| BBB Disruption | Allows drugs to cross the blood-brain barrier, which is otherwise impermeable, enabling treatment of previously inaccessible conditions.[2, 1] | Potential for unintended substances to cross the BBB, causing inflammation or other adverse reactions. |
| Versatile Treatment | Shows promise for a wide range of neurological disorders. [3] | Long-term effects of repeated BBB disruption are still being studied and are not fully understood. |
Where can I learn more about the Brain School and focused ultrasound?
For more data about the Brain School program, visit the registration page: https://fbri.vtc.vt.edu/events/annual-brain-school.html