Scanning ultrasound, an innovative non-invasive technology that uses sound waves to stimulate the brain and open new pathways for treatment, is emerging as one of the most promising tools in the fight against Alzheimer’s disease.
At QBI, researchers are advancing the science behind this technology, while industry partners are helping move discoveries from the lab into the clinic.
Led by Professor Jürgen Götz and his team at the Clem Jones Centre for Ageing Dementia Research (CJCADR), scanning ultrasound has revealed two potential new therapeutic approaches to battle dementia:
- Safely opening the blood-brain barrier to allow drugs, antibodies and gene therapies to reach the brain more effectively.
- Providing non-invasive brain stimulation that can regulate nervous system activity and restore function disrupted by disease.
“The ability to both deliver therapeutics more effectively and to stimulate the brain without invasive surgery, gives ultrasound enormous potential in treating neurodegenerative disorders and other diseases of the brain,” Professor Götz said.
Partnership with Ceretas
To accelerate this promising technology, The University of Queensland has licensed the ultrasound technology to Brisbane-based medical technology company, Ceretas.
Ceretas is now leading the development of a next-generation ultrasound device designed to improve memory and cognition in people with Alzheimer’s disease.
The project recently secured a $2.4 million grant through the CUREator+Dementia & Cognitive Decline program, part of the Australian Government’s Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF) BioMedTech Incubator Initiative.
The funding will enable delivery of personalised therapeutic ultrasound to enhance connectivity and restore function in brain circuits affected by Alzheimer's disease (AD). The CUREator+ funding will support device optimisation and is aimed to improve symptoms and slow cognitive decline in an upcoming AD clinical trial.
“With this support, we can accelerate the development of a world-first Australian solution that has the potential to improve cognition and quality of life for millions of people globally,” said CEO of Ceretas Dr Rachel de las Heras.
As QBI scientists press forward with fundamental research and Ceretas advances clinical development, scanning ultrasound is edging closer to transforming how the world approaches neurological disease.
