Positron emission tomography-guided focused ultrasound platform for experimental molecule delivery

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Ultrasound is widely used as a diagnostic tool today, but imaging is not its only application. The periodic pressure oscillations that are caused by the ultrasound wave produce thermal and mechanical effects that can be used for ablation or molecule delivery. These novel areas of research, particularly molecule delivery, need many developments to reach maturity. There is therefore considerable interest in the life sciences community for this kind of tool that will allow for repeatable and controllable methods for molecule delivery. FUS Instruments, the partner that I intend to engage in this project, has a commercial product designed for the exposure of small animal models for blood brain barrier disruption and molecule delivery studies. Their current system is guided by magnetic resonance images and they have a current need to increasing the imaging modalities they can use for guidance; in particular, to include small animal positron emission tomography (micro-PET) which is used by a large part of their potential clients. PET will give a highly-sensitive functional imaging mode to the platform and will enhance the studies that can be conducted with their platform. The industrial partner requires to increase the market of their products, and thanks to the access and experience on available pre-clinical platforms in Thunder Bay, I can provide the complementary expertise on micro-PET and focused ultrasound devices to produce a prototype platform that will include new users of their technology. The resulting product will provide FUS Instruments with a competitive edge in the market and will make their