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Focused Ultrasound for Prostate Cancer: UK Foundation Helps Raise Awareness

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Key Points An awareness event in London was attended by more than 50 guests.  Professor Hashim Ahmed presented on advances in diagnosing and treating the disease, and a focused ultrasound patient shared his story. The UK Focused Ultrasound Foundation (UKFUSF) played a key role in organizing a recent educational event in London to raise awareness of focused ultrasound as a treatment for prostate cancer. Held at a private members’ club, the invitation-only gathering welcomed around 50 attendees, including club members and their guests.  Professor Hashim Ahmed, chair of urology at Imperial College London, gave a presentation on advances in diagnosing and treating prostate cancer. Prof. Ahmed is a pioneer in the development and adoption of minimally invasive prostate treatment therapies, including especially high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU).  Professor Hashim Ahmed Guests also heard a compelling personal account from a club member who underwent a successful HIFU treatment with Prof. Ahmed and remains in remission.  Among the guests were Miss Lucy Simmons, consultant urological surgeon at the Royal United Hospital (RUH) Bath; Mr. Chandran Tanabalan, consultant urological surgeon at Northampton General Hospital; and Charles Packshaw, former chairman of Prostate Cancer UK.  Both Prof. Ahmed and Miss Simmons currently treat patients with prostate cancer using the Sonablate HIFU device. In December 2023, UKFUSF partnered with the prostate cancer charity Prost8 to fund the Sonablate system at RUH Bath. The Foundation is also assisting in fundraising efforts to purchase a device for Northampton General Hospital, where Mr. Tanabalan will begin treating patients with HIFU.   Philip Keevil, UKFUSF chairman, remarked: “These awareness events are so important to the Foundation, as most men suffering from cancer of the prostate – and even many physicians – are unaware of focused ultrasound as a noninvasive treatment without the debilitating side effects of the standard of care that is surgical resection and/or radio therapy.” 
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UK Event Raises Awareness for Focused Ultrasound in Pediatrics

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Key Points Three leading researchers discussed focused ultrasound research for critically ill infants and children.  The event was hosted by the UK Focused Ultrasound Foundation, an organization that aims to advance the technology in the region.   Left to Right: Prof. ter Haar, Prof. Davidson, and Prof. Saffari On November 19, the UK Focused Ultrasound Foundation (UK FUSF) hosted an awareness event, called “Saving Children’s Lives with Sound,” to advance focused ultrasound research for critically ill infants and children. The event, held at the Cavalry and Guards Club in London, featured a fireside chat of experts, including: Professor Gail ter HaarLeader of the Therapeutic Ultrasound Group, Institute for Cancer Research Professor Brian DavidsonHepatobiliary & Liver Transplant Surgeon, Royal FreeProfessor of Surgery, University College London Professor Nader SaffariProfessor of Ultrasonics, Department of Mechanical Engineering, University College London Attendees learned how noninvasive focused ultrasound is transforming treatment for pediatric indications, including childhood genetic metabolic disease and a clinical trial for twin-twin transfusion syndrome, an often fatal disease affecting identical twins. The group also discussed early research using focused ultrasound plus immunotherapy to treat pediatric neuroblastoma. The event also served as the perfect venue to present Professor Wladslaw Gedroyc, a consultant radiologist at St. Mary’s Hospital, Imperial College National Health Service (NHS) Trust, with the Foundation’s 2024 Clinical Adoption Award. Prof. Gedroyc has been a champion of focused ultrasound for more than 20 years and has treated more than 800 patients with the technology.  “The UK FUSF greatly appreciates the interest in and support of research for these life-changing and rapidly evolving technologies,” said Philip Keevil, Chairman of the UK FUSF. Last year, the UK FUSF formally launched its operations to advance the development and adoption of focused ultrasound in the United Kingdom. The Foundation aims to promote collaboration between policymakers, researchers, and leaders in the health field; raise awareness about this groundbreaking, rapidly evolving technology; and make noninvasive treatment more accessible to the public.
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Investigator Profile: Professor David Cranston Chairman Profile: Philip Keevil Company Profile: Sonablate Corporation Investigator Profile: Professor Hashim Ahmed Patient Profile: Paul Sayer