About

The goal of the UVA Focused Ultrasound Cancer Immunotherapy Center is to improve quality of life, increase longevity, and improve access to and decrease the cost of care for patients with a variety of cancers – including glioblastoma, pancreatic cancer, breast cancer, and melanoma – by augmenting the effectiveness of cancer immunotherapy with focused ultrasound. To achieve this goal, we leverage many existing strengths of UVA, which is a designated Focused Ultrasound Center of Excellence. These institutional strengths include cancer immunotherapy, focused ultrasound, and medical imaging. We also benefit from expertise and support provided by the Focused Ultrasound Foundation and the UVA Comprehensive Cancer Center. Led by Co-Directors Richard J. Price, PhD, Craig Slingluff, MD, and David Brenin, MD, the center is the first of its kind in the world.

The center is built on a powerful multidisciplinary and interdepartmental collaboration between medical and surgical oncology, radiology, radiation oncology, and biomedical engineering. A combined initial investment from UVA, the Foundation, and the Commonwealth of Virginia is being used to purchase state-of-the-art focused ultrasound devices, hire scientists and staff, and fund laboratory research studies and clinical trials.