Research Projects

Background:

MRgFUS (or HIFU) has been approved by Heath Canada for the treatment of Essential Tremor.

Purpose:

This research study is not to determine if MRgFUS is effective in the treatment of ET. Instead the purpose of the trial is to:

1) Monitor the long term outcomes of patients undergoing HIFU thalamotomy

2) Develop low intensity ultrasonic brain mapping tools

3) Develop better brain imaging protocols

Background:

Anterior capsulotomy is an effective treatment for refractory OCD and has been in use since the 1960s. MRgFUS may be a safer way to perform this procedure.

Purpose:

While we are participating in a multicentre phase 1 trial about the safety and initial effectiveness of MRgFUS in patients with OCD, our aims are to:

1) Monitor the long term clinical outcomes of patients undergoing HIFU capsulotomy

2) Develop better brain imaging protocols

3) Develop low intensity ultrasonic brain mapping tools

Additional Information: 

Please refer to the Clinical Trials.gov website or click below

Dr Bruce Pike's Lab: 

Focus areas include: 

• Structural and functional MRI for planning and assessment of MRgFUS surgery for tremor.
• Structural and functional MRI for planning and assessment of MRgFUS surgery for OCD.
• RF coil design for MRgFUS system (collaboration with Dr. Nicola De Zanche, U of A).
• Optimized MRI acquisitions for MRgFUS procedures.
• Low intensity focused ultrasound (LIFU) for neuromodulation in humans.
• Neuronavigation for LIFU (collaboration with Rogue Research Inc.).
• MRgFUS for brain hyperthermia and enhanced drug delivery in oncology

Dr Sam Pichardo's Lab: (https://www.neurofus.ca)

Focus areas include: 

• The exploration of Focused Ultrasound (FUS) as a noninvasive method for the characterization of neurological functions and the treatment of brain disorders
• A better understanding of brain processes and cognitive mechanisms to the development of new therapies for depression, obsessive-compulsive disorders, addictions, and more, the stakes of a noninvasive, high-resolution and controlled method to induce neurostimulation are quite significant.  
• Exploring further the mechanism and assocation between how FUS can transiently induce neurostimulation effects on the brain
• Explore the potential applications of noninvasive neurostimulation with FUs in areas psychology, psychiatry, functional imaging and more

Research activities include:

• Numerical studies for sound propagation through the skull
• Neuromodulation studies in pre-clinical models
• Characterization of transcranial ultrasound propagation
• Development of Magnetic Resonance-guided techniques for the targeting and monitoring of FUS 
• Clinical translation of FUS applications

Dr Laura Curiel's Lab: (www.ustlab.com)

Focus areas include: 

• Biomedical devices design
• Ultrasound devices and transducers
• Ultrasound biological effects
• Multi-modality imaging guidance for HIFU

Research activities include:

• Centred in High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound (HIFU) therapy and guidance
• Developing pre-clinical tools, novel imaging guidance and collaborative projects aimed at designing pre-clinical devices intended for cell and animal applications for research users (ARTEMIS project)
• Implementing user-centered techniques to improve outcomes and adoption of research devices as well as exploring novel transducer excitation and design methods for new medical devices intended for neurological applications.

Dr Zelma Kiss' Lab: 

Focus areas include:

• Mechanisms of action of neuromodulatory therapies including focused ultrasound, electrical stimulation
• Pathophysiology of movement disorders in patients and animal models
• Outcomes of MRgFUS lesioning in patients: imaging, electrophysiology, somatosensory
• Low intensity focused ultrasound for neural prosthetic development

Dr Davide Martino's Lab:

Focus areas include:

• Outcomes of MRgFUS thalamotomy in patients with movement disorders
• Neuromodulatory MRgFUS for treatment of dystonia
• Endophenotypic markers, environmental factors and multidisciplinary pathways of care for complex movement disorders, mainly Tourette syndrome and dystonia.