In this episode of Curing with Sound, we explore a groundbreaking approach to one of medicine’s toughest cancers, glioblastoma (GBM), with Michael Canney, PhD, Chief Scientific Officer at Carthera. GBM is the most aggressive form of brain cancer, notoriously hard to treat because the blood-brain barrier (BBB) blocks many life-saving drugs from reaching tumor cells. With survival rates of just one to two years, new approaches are urgently needed.

Dr. Canney shares how Carthera’s SonoCloud-9, an implantable, therapeutic ultrasound device, temporarily opens the BBB and enhances the delivery of circulating drugs to the brain. He also discusses the SONOBIRD clinical trial, comparing the use of Carthera’s SonoCloud-9 device combined with chemotherapy to standard-of-care therapies in patients with recurrent GBM. Discussion highlights:

• Phase III SONOBIRD Trial: The largest clinical trial in Carthera's history, enrolling 560 patients across the United States and Europe. The trial’s goal is to demonstrate a survival advantage for patients with recurrent GBM when BBB opening is combined with the delivery of carboplatin chemotherapy, as compared with standard of care.
• Revolutionizing Drug Delivery: How SonoCloud-9 opens the BBB to increase carboplatin concentrations five- to seven-fold, potentially unlocking the full potential of existing cancer drugs that previously couldn’t reach brain tumors.

EPISODE TRANSCRIPT

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In this episode of Curing with Sound, we sit down with Gary Shapiro, CEO and Vice Chair of the Consumer Technology Association (CTA), and a valued member of the Focused Ultrasound Foundation Board of Directors. With decades of experience advocating for disruptive innovation, Gary offers a unique perspective on how focused ultrasound fits within the global ecosystem of transformative healthcare technologies. His perspective provides a compelling look at how focused ultrasound aligns with broader trends in global healthcare innovation.

Throughout the conversation, Gary shares his personal journey, from his work in technology policy and innovation leadership to his role on the Foundation’s board, where he continues to advocate for the rapid expansion and adoption of focused ultrasound worldwide. His insights reflect both the urgency and the opportunity of bringing transformative technologies into mainstream healthcare.

Discussion highlights:

• Prolific Author and Commentator: Gary has written more than 1,200 articles and four books, including his most recent, Pivot or Die, which explores the necessity of adaptation, innovation, and strategic change for business and technology leaders.
• Global Platform for Medical Innovation: CTA represents more than 1,300 U.S. technology companies and produces CES, the world’s largest and most influential annual technology event. Gary explains how CES provides a stage for breakthrough innovations, creating visibility for emerging solutions like focused ultrasound and connecting them to global networks of industry leaders, investors, and innovators.
• Technology as a Fundamental Human Right: Gary expands on his belief that access to technology is as essential as access to clean air, water, food, and healthcare. Building on his work with the United Nations, he underscores a vision for focused ultrasound as a universally accessible tool, one that has the potential to improve outcomes and reduce suffering for patients across the globe.

EPISODE TRANSCRIPT

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In this episode of Curing with Sound, we meet Melissa McGinnis, an essential tremor patient whose life was transformed through focused ultrasound treatment. Melissa endured decades of progressive tremors that impacted every aspect of daily life since her diagnosis as a child–a rare occurrence for those with the condition.

After learning about focused ultrasound during its clinical trials in 2012 and waiting over a decade for the treatment to become available, Melissa finally received the treatment in January 2025. The results were immediate and dramatic, providing her with greater independence and the ability to complete everyday tasks that were once a challenge.

Discussion highlights:

• Immediate Life-Changing Results: Experience Melissa's emotional journey as she describes the moment she stopped shaking after focused ultrasound treatment, calling it a "complete miracle" and sharing how simple tasks like cooking became jaw-dropping accomplishments..

• Decades of Social Stigma and Resilience: Hear about how Melissa channelled the social stigma and uncomfortable questions about her condition into stand-up comedy routines that allowed her to educate others about essential tremor.

Follow Melissa's journey on her YouTube channel: @MMCshakesalot

EPISODE TRANSCRIPT ---------------------------- QUESTIONS? Email podcast@fusfoundation.org if you have a question or comment about the show, or if you would you like to connect about future guest appearances.

Email info@fusfoundation.org if you have questions about focused ultrasound or the Foundation.

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In this episode of Curing with Sound, we speak with Patrick Hope, Executive Director of AdvaMed's Medical Imaging Division, about the critical but often unseen world of medical technology policy and advocacy that makes innovative treatments like focused ultrasound accessible to patients. Patrick shares how AdvaMed, an advocacy organization for the med tech industry, collaborates on initiatives to increase awareness among policymakers, improve reimbursement, and champion legislation that accelerates patient access to lifesaving innovations. Discussion highlights:

• Breakthrough Policy Initiative: Hear about upcoming legislation that could transform how focused ultrasound and other technologies reach patients by eliminating the lengthy CMS reimbursement process, and providing 4-5 years of Medicare coverage for breakthrough medical devices immediately after FDA approval.
• Patient-Centered Advocacy Strategy: Learn about AdvaMed's unique "Right Scan, Right Time" campaign, which has over 30,000 patient advocates, and its powerful Capitol Hill fly-in events, where patients, providers, and companies work together to share compelling stories with lawmakers. These include dramatic before-and-after videos that show the life-changing impact of treatments like focused ultrasound for essential tremor.

EPISODE TRANSCRIPT ---------------------------- QUESTIONS? Email podcast@fusfoundation.org if you have a question or comment about the show, or if you would you like to connect about future guest appearances.

Email info@fusfoundation.org if you have questions about focused ultrasound or the Foundation.

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In this episode of Curing with Sound, we explore how focused ultrasound is being studied as a treatment for depression and anxiety, told through the perspectives of both a leading researcher and a veteran who experienced it firsthand. Noah Philip, MD, is a professor of psychiatry and human behavior at Brown University's Alpert Medical School and a leading expert on focused ultrasound neuromodulation for psychiatric conditions. He discusses his research using low-intensity focused ultrasound to modulate the amygdala for the treatment of depression and anxiety in veterans.

Joining him is Nick Marinelli, an Iraq War veteran and Black Hawk mechanic who participated in Dr. Philip’s revolutionary clinical trial after struggling with depression and anxiety for over a decade following his deployment. Nick shares his experience receiving focused ultrasound treatments and the immediate improvements he noticed in his daily mood and his ability to be present with his family, particularly during meaningful moments like his daughter's kindergarten graduation.

Discussion highlights:

• Revolutionary Mental Health Technology: Discover how focused ultrasound neuromodulation offers millimeter-scale precision to target deep brain structures like the amygdala. This noninvasive alternative to traditional psychiatric treatments has the potential to transform mental healthcare for treatment-resistant conditions.
• From Research to Real-World Impact: Hear about Dr. Philip's advocacy efforts, including his 2024 congressional briefing to expand access to focused ultrasound treatments, and the upcoming four-year VA-funded trial aimed at optimizing dosing strategies for clinical implementation across underserved communities.

All patient stories featured on the Curing with Sound podcast are personal accounts of an individual’s experience with focused ultrasound treatment. Please be aware that each patient’s situation is unique, and outcomes may vary. The information provided in this story should not be considered as medical advice or a guarantee of specific results. It is important to consult with a qualified healthcare provider to discuss your condition and determine the best treatment options for you. The Focused Ultrasound Foundation does not endorse any specific treatment or medical procedure and encourages all patients to seek professional medical guidance tailored to their individual needs.

EPISODE TRANSCRIPT ---------------------------- QUESTIONS? Email podcast@fusfoundation.org if you have a question or comment about the show, or if you would you like to connect about future guest appearances.

Email info@fusfoundation.org if you have questions about focused ultrasound or the Foundation.

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In this episode of Curing with Sound, we speak with Bill Traynor, a Canadian adventurer whose life shifted dramatically when he was diagnosed with ALS (Lou Gehrig's disease), a neurodegenerative disorder with an average life expectancy of just two to five years. Once enjoying high-impact activities like skydiving, race car driving, and scuba diving, Bill's active lifestyle came to an abrupt halt.

Determined to face the diagnosis head-on, Bill became the first person to participate in a focused ultrasound clinical trial at Sunnybrook Research Institute, where researchers used a newly developed helmet to noninvasively and temporarily open the blood-brain barrier. This breakthrough allowed direct delivery of immunotherapy to his brain to reduce ALS-related neuroinflammation.

Discussion highlights:

• World-First Medical Breakthrough: Researchers used a new domed helmet, designed to temporarily open the blood-brain barrier in very specific regions of the brain, helping push more medication into areas affected by ALS. This new helmet provides enhanced image guidance, faster treatment times, and targeting capacity for the investigation of personalized therapies for patients with a variety of neurological conditions and diseases of the brain
• Promising Early Results: After treatment, the medication delivered to the brain stays in the tissue for two to eight weeks. Researchers will now track the trial participants over the next five months before deciding whether and how to expand this research.

All patient stories featured on the Curing with Sound podcast are personal accounts of an individual’s experience with focused ultrasound treatment. Please be aware that each patient’s situation is unique, and outcomes may vary. The information provided in this story should not be considered as medical advice or a guarantee of specific results. It is important to consult with a qualified healthcare provider to discuss your condition and determine the best treatment options for you. The Focused Ultrasound Foundation does not endorse any specific treatment or medical procedure and encourages all patients to seek professional medical guidance tailored to their individual needs.

EPISODE TRANSCRIPT ---------------------------- QUESTIONS? Email podcast@fusfoundation.org if you have a question or comment about the show, or if you would you like to connect about future guest appearances.

Email info@fusfoundation.org if you have questions about focused ultrasound or the Foundation.

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In this episode of Curing with Sound, we speak with Rosie Xing, PhD, Managing Director of Global Planning, International Marketing, and Business at Chongqing Haifu Medical Technology, a world leader in noninvasive focused ultrasound systems. Founded in 1999 by Professor Zhibiao Wang, Chongqing Haifu has revolutionized treatment for patients across 400 medical centers worldwide, with their technology now installed in 32 countries outside China.

Prof. Xing shares about the growth of Chongqing Haifu, starting with the first therapeutic system to treat osteosarcoma. Now, their devices can treat conditions such as uterine fibroids, adenomyosis, and cancers of the liver, breast, pancreas, kidneys, and bones, in addition to other diseases. She also discusses the company’s collaborations with professional societies, research centers, and academic institutions worldwide.

Discussion highlights:

• Unprecedented Global Impact: Discover how Chongqing Haifu has treated over 260,000 women for uterine fibroids and enabled more than 3,500 babies to be born through fertility-preserving focused ultrasound treatments, addressing critical healthcare needs, especially in regions where fibroid incidence reaches 80%.
• Comprehensive Treatment Portfolio: Learn about the evolution from treating the first osteosarcoma patient in 1997 to today's diverse applications spanning benign conditions, multiple cancer types, and palliative care for metastatic lesions, demonstrating the versatility of focused ultrasound technology.
• Training Centers: Chongqing Haifu established 13 training bases in mainland China, offering immersive instruction using simulators, live case observations, hands-on practice, and mentorship from experts in the FUS field for international researchers and medical staff.

EPISODE TRANSCRIPT ---------------------------- QUESTIONS? Email podcast@fusfoundation.org if you have a question or comment about the show, or if you would you like to connect about future guest appearances.

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In this episode of Curing with Sound, we hear the remarkable story of Monica Russell, who has lived with severe obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) for nearly 30 years. Diagnosed at age nine, Monica pursued a wide range of conventional and alternative treatments before participating in a focused ultrasound clinical trial at Sunnybrook Hospital in Toronto. Following two noninvasive treatments, she experienced immediate relief from depression and a sustained 35–40% reduction in OCD symptoms over the following year and a half.

Monica shares a candid account of her struggles with debilitating OCD, including the painful compulsions and time-consuming rituals that affected her personal and professional life. Her experience offers valuable insight into the challenges of living with treatment-resistant OCD and the life-changing potential of focused ultrasound as a breakthrough therapy for psychiatric conditions.

Discussion highlights:

• Focused Ultrasound as a Treatment Option: The episode outlines how focused ultrasound helped reduce Monica’s depression and OCD symptoms when other therapies had limited effect.
• Advancing Research Through Clinical Trials: Monica’s story underscores the critical role of clinical trials in evaluating new treatment options for patients with treatment-resistant OCD. Her participation highlights the need for continued funding and enrollment in focused ultrasound research to expand access and improve outcomes for others facing similar challenges.

  EPISODE TRANSCRIPT ---------------------------- QUESTIONS? Email podcast@fusfoundation.org if you have a question or comment about the show, or if you would you like to connect about future guest appearances.

  Email info@fusfoundation.org if you have questions about focused ultrasound or the Foundation.

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