Exploring the clinical promise of transcranial ultrasound stimulation (TUS) to treat neurological conditions
Lead supervisor: Professor Charlotte Stagg
Co-supervisors: Dr Ashwini Oswal, Professor Rafal Bogacz
Commercial partner: NeuroHarmonics Ltd
Neurological conditions affect hundreds of millions worldwide, representing a critical unmet medical need. Transcranial ultrasound stimulation (TUS) offers unprecedented potential as a non-invasive brain stimulation technology capable of precisely targeting virtually any brain region with high spatial resolution. While TUS has demonstrated remarkable promise across diverse scientific and clinical applications, rigorous characterisation of the value that TUS might bring to the treatment of neurological disorders is still required.
This iCase project will bridge this crucial gap by establishing a translational research program that identifies and evaluates promising neurological targets for TUS intervention. The student will conduct proof-of-concept trials that provide initial efficacy signals for TUS applications across selected neurological disorders. The particular neurological conditions under investigation and the experimental design of these studies will be determined by the student in deliberation with their supervisory team.
The industrial placement component of this project offers unique exposure to the commercial translation of neurotechnology. The student will conduct research supporting product development, including comprehensive literature reviews addressing neuroscientific questions from the engineering team and conducting in-house experiments to further investigate the effects of TUS. Additionally, the placement provides opportunities to engage with and learn about the commercialisation of medical technologies, including regulatory processes, clinical trial design, and general business strategy development. Through this iCase project, the student will gain world-class training in neuroscience and experimental medicine academic research as well as in-depth understanding of how this research can be translated into real-life impact for patients.
This collaboration directly addresses the company's strategic need for neuroscientific expertise in determining how TUS technology may be applied across multiple neurological indications. The project will establish a robust pipeline of evidence-based targets for future clinical development while training a researcher at the intersection of academic neuroscience and commercial medical technology development.
The outcomes will accelerate the clinical translation of TUS technology, potentially transforming treatment paradigms for neurological disorders through precise, non-invasive brain stimulation. Therefore the proposed project aligns with MRC's focus on neuroscience and mental health as well as translational research. It also embodies MRC's strategic priorities of building capacity in precision medicine, experimental medicine, and translational skills and impact
Apply using course: DPhil in Clinical Neuroscience
