Curing with Sound

Latest Episodes:

Ep62: From the Lab to Patient Care: Advancing Histotripsy and Kidney Stone Treatment with Adam Maxwell, PhD Oct 06, 2026

Show notes

In this episode of Curing with Sound, we speak with Adam Maxwell, PhD, an associate professor of biomedical engineering at Virginia Tech, whose career has literally spanned the focused ultrasound development pathway, from fundamental research and technology development to startups, clinical trials, and FDA-cleared technologies.
Dr. Maxwell reflects on his involvement in some of the earliest histotripsy research at the University of Michigan and the technology’s evolution from the laboratory to clinical use. He also discusses his work advancing noninvasive kidney stone treatments for people and companion animals, including co-founding SonoMotion and helping bring its novel Break Wave lithotripsy technology to market.

Discussion highlights:

From Research to Clinical Use: Follow the evolution of focused ultrasound technologies, including histotripsy and burst wave lithotripsy, from research and development to clinical application.
Advancing Kidney Stone Treatment: Learn how new noninvasive approaches are expanding treatment options for kidney stones, including the potential to treat some patients while awake and outside the operating room.
Insights from Veterinary Research: Hear how Foundation-funded studies in cats are informing technology development and generating insights that could help advance treatment approaches for human patients.

EPISODE TRANSCRIPT

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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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Ep61: A Closer Look at Histotripsy for Liver Tumors with Daniel Sheeran, MD Sep 22, 2026

Show notes

In this episode of Curing with Sound, we speak with Daniel Sheeran, MD, an interventional radiologist at the University of Virginia, about histotripsy, a form of focused ultrasound that mechanically destroys targeted tissue without incisions or heat. In 2023, the US Food and Drug Administration cleared the HistoSonics Edison™ histotripsy system for the noninvasive destruction of liver tumors. Dr. Sheeran, who performed UVA’s first histotripsy procedure in June 2025, explains how the technology works and shares insights from his experience integrating this new treatment option into clinical practice.
Dr. Sheeran offers a closer look at the role of histotripsy in the broader treatment landscape for liver tumors and the questions researchers are still working to answer, including its impact on long-term patient outcomes. He also emphasizes the importance of understanding all available treatment options when making decisions about cancer care.
Discussion highlights:

A New Noninvasive Option for Liver Tumors: Learn how histotripsy uses focused ultrasound to generate microscopic bubbles that mechanically destroy targeted tissue without incisions or heat—and how the FDA-authorized technology is being incorporated into clinical care.
From Innovation to Patient Impact: Explore why successfully destroying a tumor is only one measure of treatment impact—and why ongoing research is needed to understand histotripsy’s effects on long-term outcomes, quality of life, and survival.

EPISODE TRANSCRIPT

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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.

FUSF SOCIAL MEDIA

FUSF WEBSITE
https://www.fusfoundation.org

Ep60: Veterinary Focused Ultrasound: Better Care for Pets, New Insights for People Sep 08, 2026

Show notes

In this episode of Curing with Sound, we speak with Tonya Cherukuri, PhD, Director of the Foundation's Claudine and Fritz Kundrun Veterinary Program. The program funds clinical trials investigating focused ultrasound for naturally occurring diseases in companion animals to advance veterinary care and also generate insights that may inform applications in human medicine. To date, it has supported nearly 30 trials across 14 conditions, including osteosarcoma, lymphoma, oral tumors, and urinary stones.

Dr. Cherukuri discusses the potential advantages of focused ultrasound for veterinary patients, including its noninvasive nature, shorter recovery times, and reduced risk of infection. She highlights promising areas of research, examines the barriers to translating focused ultrasound from veterinary studies into clinical practice, and outlines what will be needed to make the technology more widely available.

Dr. Cherukuri also reflects on the generous gift from Claudine and Fritz Kundrun that anchors the program, and the Foundation’s ongoing fundraising efforts to sustain veterinary focused ultrasound research in the years ahead.

Learn more about the Claudine and Fritz Kundrun Veterinary Program: https://www.fusfoundation.org/the-foundation/initiatives/veterinary-medicine

Donate to support focused ultrasound veterinary research: https://www.fusfoundation.org/the-foundation/initiatives/veterinary-medicine/#support
Discussion highlights:

Advancing Veterinary and Human Medicine: Companion animals naturally develop many of the same diseases that affect people. Studying focused ultrasound in veterinary patients can improve care for animals while generating valuable insights that may help advance the technology for human patients.
Moving Research into Clinical Practice: Dr. Cherukuri discusses barriers, including device availability, training, and awareness, as well as the importance of multi-site clinical research in moving focused ultrasound closer to routine veterinary use.

EPISODE TRANSCRIPT

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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.

FUSF SOCIAL MEDIA

FUSF WEBSITE
https://www.fusfoundation.org

Ep59: Choosing Joy: One Man’s Journey with Glioblastoma and Focused Ultrasound Aug 25, 2026

Show notes

A glioblastoma diagnosis changes a family’s life in an instant—especially when a tumor’s location makes surgery too risky. For patients facing this aggressive form of brain cancer, treatment often involves difficult decisions, profound uncertainty, and the challenge of continuing to live fully amid a life-altering diagnosis.
In this episode of Curing with Sound, we speak with Keith Merker, a husband and father from London, Ontario, who was diagnosed with glioblastoma in 2025. Keith enrolled in a clinical trial at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, investigating focused ultrasound combined with microbubbles to temporarily open the blood-brain barrier, with the goal of enabling more chemotherapy to reach the tumor. Early clinical research has recently shown a potential survival benefit from this approach, though larger studies are needed to confirm the findings.
Keith shares a candid patient perspective on undergoing focused ultrasound treatment, navigating the emotional realities of glioblastoma, and finding meaning through family, music, and a commitment to “choosing joy.” His story also highlights the important role patients play in advancing research. By participating in clinical trials, patients like Keith help researchers build the evidence needed to evaluate emerging treatment approaches and move the field forward.

Discussion highlights:

Experiencing Focused Ultrasound as a Patient: Keith shares a firsthand account of undergoing focused ultrasound to temporarily open the blood-brain barrier and what the treatment experience was like for him.
Importance of Clinical Trials: Clinical trial participants help researchers evaluate focused ultrasound in patients, generate critical evidence, and move promising applications closer to broader clinical use.
Choosing Joy Through Uncertainty: Discover how Keith responded to one of the most difficult periods of his life by creating Team Christmas, a music-driven initiative rooted in family, hope, and community.

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

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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.

FUSF SOCIAL MEDIA

FUSF WEBSITE
https://www.fusfoundation.org

Ep58: Focused Ultrasound and the Future of Veterinary Cancer Research Aug 11, 2026

Show notes

In this episode of Curing with Sound, we speak with Nikolaos Dervisis, DVM, PhD, DACVIM, an associate professor of veterinary oncology at Purdue University and Senior Advisor for Veterinary Initiatives at the Focused Ultrasound Foundation.Dr. Dervisis discusses the growing role of focused ultrasound in veterinary medicine and its potential to advance cancer care. He also explores how studying naturally occurring cancers in animals can provide valuable insights into disease biology and treatment response, with implications for both veterinary and human medicine.

He also shares updates on two new canine clinical trials investigating focused ultrasound for osteosarcoma and lymphoma, explores the challenges of expanding access to the technology in veterinary medicine, and reflects on the vital contributions of pet owners and their animals to advancing this research.

Discussion highlights:

The One Medicine Concept: Explore how the biological, clinical, and immunological similarities between cancers in humans and animals create opportunities for focused ultrasound research to advance treatment across species.

Innovative Clinical Trials: Learn about two new trials at Purdue University investigating focused ultrasound for osteosarcoma and lymphoma, including its potential to influence tumor behavior and immune response.

Overcoming Infrastructure Barriers: Hear about the current challenges in veterinary oncology, including the need for species-specific devices, funding limitations, and the importance of training and awareness within the veterinary community.

EPISODE TRANSCRIPT

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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.

FUSF SOCIAL MEDIA

FUSF WEBSITE
https://www.fusfoundation.org

Ep57: Cracking the Case of Chronic Back Pain with Focused Ultrasound Jul 28, 2026

Show notes

In this episode of Curing with Sound, we speak with Jim Rorie, a licensed private investigator from North Carolina whose career and daily life were profoundly affected by chronic low back pain following a multi-vehicle collision. After months of physical therapy and painful nerve block injections, Jim became one of the first patients in the United States to be commercially treated with noninvasive focused ultrasound for his back pain.

He shares what led him to the procedure, what the treatment experience was like, and how it has transformed his pain, his work, and his quality of life.

Discussion highlights:

First-of-its-Kind Device Receives FDA Clearance: In November 2025, the FUSMobile Neurolyser XR system received De Novo clearance from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of chronic low back pain. The device, which uses focused ultrasound to ablate sensory nerves in the spinal facet joints, is also approved in Europe, Canada, and the UK.

Renewed Hope and Quality of Life: Jim reflects on the difference focused ultrasound has made in his recovery, allowing him to return to his career as a private investigator and regain activities that chronic pain had previously limited.

EPISODE TRANSCRIPT

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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.

FUSF SOCIAL MEDIA

FUSF WEBSITE
https://www.fusfoundation.org

Ep56: Demystifying the Regulatory Landscape with Matt Myers, PhD Jul 14, 2026

Show notes

In this episode of Curing with Sound, we speak with Matt Myers, PhD, a research physicist and founder of Puente Translational Sciences. Dr. Myers spent more than 30 years at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), where he helped develop tools to evaluate emerging devices and applications, including focused ultrasound. Drawing on decades of experience, Dr. Myers offers an insider's perspective on the FDA's role in advancing medical innovation and explains how researchers and device developers can work more effectively with regulators to accelerate patient access to new therapies.

He discusses his early involvement with the first focused ultrasound submission for uterine fibroids, his important work during the COVID-19 pandemic, and his current efforts to help researchers and manufacturers accelerate the path to market for therapeutic ultrasound devices.

Discussion highlights:

Working with the FDA: How the FDA collaborates with researchers and manufacturers to improve devices, streamline regulatory pathways, and help bring safe and effective technologies to patients.

The Evolving Field of Neuromodulation: Why focused ultrasound neuromodulation is generating growing regulatory interest, and how standardized reporting will strengthen future research and clinical translation.

Preparing the Next Generation: Dr. Myers' advice for early-career researchers on developing the technical skills and interdisciplinary expertise needed to succeed in the rapidly evolving field of therapeutic ultrasound.

EPISODE TRANSCRIPT

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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.

FUSF SOCIAL MEDIA

FUSF WEBSITE
https://www.fusfoundation.org

Ep55: Movement Disorders, Epilepsy and More: The Expanding Impact of Focused Ultrasound Jun 23, 2026

Show notes

Focused ultrasound is rapidly expanding the boundaries of what is possible in functional neurosurgery. From movement disorders to epilepsy, researchers are exploring how this noninvasive technology can precisely target and treat an expanding range of neurological conditions.
In this episode of Curing with Sound, Vibhor Krishna, MD, Associate Professor and Vice Chair of Inpatient Operations in the Department of Neurosurgery at the University of North Carolina, discusses the latest advances in focused ultrasound for neurological disorders. Dr. Krishna shares moving patient stories, reviews newly approved bilateral treatment for Parkinson’s disease, and shares encouraging early findings from a Phase I clinical trial for treatment-resistant epilepsy.
The conversation also explores the broader therapeutic landscape for epilepsy and the opportunities ahead as focused ultrasound research continues to advance.
Discussion highlights:

Incisionless Tremor Relief: Discover how focused ultrasound offers a life-changing, noninvasive option for patients with essential tremor who wish to avoid invasive surgery and implanted hardware.
Bilateral Parkinson's Treatment: Learn about the recent FDA approval for ablating the palatothalamic tract (PTT) bilaterally, a staged approach that addresses fluctuating symptoms like stiffness and slowness while potentially reducing medication dependence.
Pioneering Epilepsy Trials: Hear promising early results of a Phase I clinical trial using focused ultrasound to reduce seizure frequency in patients with treatment-resistant epilepsy.

EPISODE TRANSCRIPT

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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.

FUSF SOCIAL MEDIA

FUSF WEBSITE
https://www.fusfoundation.org

Ep54: Exploring Focused Ultrasound Applications in Veterinary Medicine with Ashish Ranjan, PhD Jun 09, 2026

Show notes

In this episode of Curing with Sound, we speak with Ashish Ranjan, PhD, a professor of radiation oncology and director of the Veterinary Research and Oncology Clinic at the University of Texas Southwestern. Dr. Ranjan discusses how emerging focused ultrasound applications, including histotripsy and sonodynamic therapy, are being used to treat solid tumors in companion animals.

He explains how veterinary oncology research contributes to advances in human medicine, shares findings from ongoing clinical studies, and explores the potential of combining focused ultrasound with immunotherapy, radiation therapy, and other cancer treatments. Learn how comparative oncology is helping shape the future of personalized, noninvasive cancer care for both veterinary and human patients.

Discussion highlights:

The One Health Approach: Learn how studying naturally occurring diseases in companion animals can accelerate therapeutic development, providing a powerful bridge between veterinary and human medicine and helping researchers evaluate new treatments more efficiently.
Veterinary Research and Oncology Clinic (VROC): Discover how VROC combines advanced clinical care with cutting-edge research to offer dogs and cats access to innovative cancer treatments. The clinic evaluates emerging technologies, such as focused ultrasound, and other novel therapies, and maintains a strong focus on patient comfort, quality of life, and individualized care.

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.

FUSF SOCIAL MEDIA

FUSF WEBSITE
https://www.fusfoundation.org

Ep53: Microbubble Technology and Focused Ultrasound: A Conversation with Sasha Klibanov, PhD May 19, 2026

Show notes

Targeted drug delivery to the brain has long been hindered by the blood-brain barrier, a protective layer that prevents many therapeutic agents from reaching their intended targets. For patients with serious neurological disorders, this challenge can significantly reduce access to potentially effective treatments and limit therapeutic outcomes.

In this episode of Curing with Sound, we speak with Sasha Klibanov, PhD, Associate Professor in the Division of Cardiovascular Medicine at the University of Virginia and a pioneering researcher in microbubble technology. Dr. Klibanov discusses the evolution of microbubbles from imaging contrast agents to sophisticated tools for drug delivery. He also explains how focused ultrasound, combined with microbubbles, can safely and temporarily open the blood-brain barrier, creating new opportunities for precision therapies and advancing the potential of immunotherapy.

Discussion highlights:

Microbubble Technology Explained: Explore how microbubbles evolved from diagnostic imaging tools into powerful agents for precise drug delivery when combined with focused ultrasound.
Advancing Immunotherapy: Learn about Dr. Klibanov's collaborative research on using size-sorted microbubbles to optimize the opening of the blood-brain barrier, potentially revolutionizing how we treat complex diseases by enabling targeted immune responses.

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.

FUSF SOCIAL MEDIA

FUSF WEBSITE
https://www.fusfoundation.org

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