Established as a program of the Focused Ultrasound Foundation, IFUS aggregates and expands the Foundation’s activities related to clinical implementation and will leverage the Foundation’s established brand, infrastructure, and human and financial resources. 

Core activities of IFUS will include:

• Education of clinicians, allied healthcare providers, and the public around the use of focused ultrasound across indications
• Meetings and workshops
• Patient support and advocacy (public policy, regulatory, and reimbursement)
• Coding, billing, and insurance
• Clinical guidelines, best practices, and standards of care
• Training, credentialing, and certification
• Society and industry partnerships
• Public relations and communications

“Focused ultrasound has reached a tipping point in clinical adoption, and its role as a game-changing element in the therapeutic armamentarium is now being recognized,” said Neal F. Kassell, MD, founder and chairman of the Focused Ultrasound Foundation. “IFUS will help bring this technology into mainstream medicine worldwide by formalizing the clinical, educational, and organizational framework needed for widespread adoption.” 

Focused ultrasound is a noninvasive technology that uses high-frequency sound waves, guided by real-time imaging, to treat tissue deep in the body without incisions or radiation. It can exert its effect through multiple mechanisms of action, including destroying tissue, delivering drugs more safely and effectively, and enhancing cancer immunotherapy.   

The technology has emerged as one of the most significant medical advances of the 21st century, with more than 1 million patients treated, over 180 indications in various stages of development, and 35 regulatory authorizations worldwide, including 12 by the US Food and Drug Administration. Focused ultrasound is now on a trajectory to treat more than 1 million patients per year.  

Nir Lipsman, MD, PhD, neurosurgeon at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre and chair of the Division of Neurosurgery at the University of Toronto, will serve as inaugural IFUS board chair.  

“As the use of focused ultrasound accelerates globally, IFUS will serve as its clinical home, advancing clinical applications, supporting implementation, and increasing awareness,” said Lipsman. “By connecting physicians across disciplines and regions, the organization will help define the standards, evidence base, and systems needed to make focused ultrasound more accessible to patients worldwide.” 

The IFUS founding board members include leading clinicians and researchers representing a wide range of geographies and specialties:

• Jin Woo Chang, MD, PhD
  Korea University Anam Hospital
• Sébastien Crouzet, MD, PhD
  Hospices Civils de Lyon & Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1
• Wladyslaw Gedroyc, MBBS, MRCP, FRCR
  Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust
• Catherine Gilmore-Lawless, MBA
  Former Executive, Elekta and GE Healthcare
• Pejman Ghanouni, MD, PhD
  Stanford University School of Medicine
• Kullervo Hynynen, PhD
  Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre
• Zhang Lian, MD
  Chongqing Haifu Hospital
• Nir Lipsman, MD, PhD
  Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre
• Suzanne LeBlang, MD
  Focused Ultrasound Foundation
• Clare M. Tempany, MD
  Harvard Medical School & Brigham and Women’s Hospital
• Joan Vidal-Jove, MD, PhD
  Comprehensive Tumour Center, Barcelona
• Zhen Xu, PhD
  University of Michigan

IFUS is focused on clinical activities and will complement organizations such as the International Society for Therapeutic Ultrasound (ISTU), which emphasizes basic research and technology development. 

Membership will include clinicians, researchers, and trainees, and all individuals involved in focused ultrasound are encouraged to sign up to connect, exchange ideas, and promote and advance this life-changing technology. Founding membership is offered at no cost for the first year. To learn more, see our frequently asked questions. For additional information, contact Paige Rice, IFUS executive director, at price@fusfoundation.org.   

About the Focused Ultrasound Foundation  
Based in Charlottesville, VA, the Focused Ultrasound Foundation was created to improve the lives of millions of people worldwide by accelerating the development of focused ultrasound, a rapidly evolving, noninvasive technology. The Foundation works to clear the path to global adoption in the shortest time possible by organizing and funding research, fostering collaboration, and building awareness among patients and clinicians. Positioned at the nexus of the focused ultrasound ecosystem, the Foundation is the catalyst and driving force for development and adoption of the technology, and the largest non-governmental funding source for focused ultrasound research. 

• Stanford researchers developed a noninvasive method of using focused ultrasound to generate light deep inside the body. 
• The process enables precise control of biological processes through light-based interventions. 

The research team at Stanford University led by Guosong Hong, PhD, recently published comprehensive study results in Nature Materials, a high-impact journal. Throughout this project, they created a groundbreaking technique that uses focused ultrasound to generate light deep inside the body, without surgery or implanted devices. Their innovative approach opens the door to highly precise, noninvasive control of biological processes through light-based interventions. Examples of these types of processes are gene editing, photodynamic therapy, deep-tissue imaging, and drug delivery.

Early joint funding provided by the Focused Ultrasound Foundation together with the Spinal Muscular Atrophy Foundation helped establish the feasibility of the approach, which led to additional funding (e.g., an NIH BRAIN Initiative R01 grant) and the final development of the comprehensive technique. 

An Ultrasound-Scanning In Vivo Light Source 

The goal of the research was to overcome a longstanding challenge: how to deliver light to specific locations inside the body with both high precision and flexibility. Light is widely used in biology and medicine research, for example to activate genes or control neurons, but typically requires invasive optical fibers or is limited to shallow tissues. 

To address the challenge, the team engineered tiny mechanoluminescent nanoparticles that circulate through the bloodstream. When stimulated by focused ultrasound, the particles emitted light exactly where the ultrasound was directed. By scanning the ultrasound beam, researchers could “paint” light patterns deep inside tissues in real time. 

The results are striking. In animal studies, the system achieved sub-millimeter precision and was able to target multiple regions throughout the brain and body. To demonstrate its potential for controlling biological activity, the researchers used a technique known as optogenetics, where cells are genetically engineered to respond to light. Using this approach, they were able to activate light-sensitive neurons in the brain and spinal cord, and in turn influence behavior, all without surgery. In other organs, the study demonstrated precise, targeted light delivery, highlighting the potential for future applications beyond the nervous system. 

“My lab is currently working with Michael Lin’s lab to pair this light-producing method with a gene-editing system,” said Dr. Hong. “We envision using ultrasound to achieve spatiotemporally precise gene editing as a noninvasive therapeutic strategy for spinal muscular atrophy, a genetic disorder caused by mutations in the survival motor neuron 1 gene (SMN1).” [Read more about this next project at “Interdisciplinary Initiatives Program Seed Grant: Ultrasound-Controlled in vivo Gene Editing via Photoswitchable CRISPR-Cas9.”] 

This breakthrough builds directly on work supported by the Focused Ultrasound Foundation. Initial funding enabled the team to demonstrate that ultrasound could trigger light emission inside living animals and achieve localized activation with high spatial precision. These foundational studies also showed that the emitted light was strong and fast enough to drive biological effects such as gene activation. 

“These are exciting results demonstrating how focused ultrasound can act as a noninvasive ‘switch’ to control gene and cell therapies with light, particularly for neurological disorders where precise, localized activation is critical,” said Frédéric Padilla, PhD, director of the Foundation’s Gene and Cell Therapy Program. 

Together, the body of work described in the publication represents a major step toward noninvasive, targeted therapies. By enabling precise control of where and when biological processes occur, ultrasound-mediated light delivery could one day support treatments for neurological disorders, genetic diseases, and beyond. 

See Nature Materials 

See the Stanford Report: Researchers Use Ultrasound to Create Light Inside the Body

See Coverage in Physics World 

Related Stories 
Focused Ultrasound for Gene and Cell Therapy 2023 Workshop Participants 

Research Awards Update: Eight Preclinical Projects Initiated in the Second Quarter of 2022 

• Anchored by a generous $1.5 million gift, we are pleased to announce the launch of our veterinary medicine fundraising campaign. 
• The newly named Claudine and Fritz Kundrun Veterinary Program is now seeking an additional $3 million to help fund innovative clinical trials in companion animals. 

We are pleased to announce a new fundraising campaign in veterinary medicine, anchored by a generous $1.5 million gift from Claudine and Fritz Kundrun. The Claudine and Fritz Kundrun Veterinary Program is now seeking an additional $3 million to help fund innovative clinical trials in companion animals.

The Veterinary Program was created to advance focused ultrasound technology to benefit both companion animals and their owners. While veterinary medicine has historically lagged behind human medicine, that gap is beginning to close as we better understand the value of studying and treating naturally occurring diseases in dogs, cats, and horses. 

“Our pets share many of the same environments as we do and are exposed to similar risk factors,” explains the Foundation’s Veterinary Program Director Tonya Cherukuri, PhD. “As a result, they develop many of the same diseases, often in ways that more closely reflect human conditions than those seen in laboratory models. Veterinary trials make new, innovative therapies available for family pets, while simultaneously contributing data that can be used to advance human medicine, creating a virtuous cycle where humans help animals help humans.” 

To date, the program has funded nearly 30 clinical trials for 13 different conditions, including osteosarcoma, lymphoma, heart disease, diabetes, and tumors in the liver, bladder, brain, and mouth. This research is being carried out at 11 institutions, including Virginia Tech, Purdue University, and University of Texas Southwestern. 

However, there are more clinical trials in the pipeline that will require an investment of $5 million over the next 3 to 5 years. Thanks to the Kundruns’ gift and co-funding commitments from other organizations, we have raised just under $2 million. Thus, a funding gap of approximately $3 million exists. 

“We are deeply grateful to Claudine and Fritz for their extraordinary gift, which underscores the power of philanthropy to advance the One Medicine approach—recognizing the vital connection between animal and human health,” said Foundation Chairman Neal F. Kassell, MD. “Their leadership sets a strong foundation for innovation and collaboration that will benefit patients across species. We invite others who share this vision to join us in building momentum for this critical work.” 

Learn More and How to Give 
To learn more about this campaign, read patient stories, and donate, visit our website.

• Dr. Cherukuri will oversee all Foundation-funded projects that are advancing focused ultrasound veterinary research.
• She has more than a decade of leadership experience in scientific project management and instrumentation development.

Before joining the Foundation in 2025 as the Veterinary Program manager, Tonya Cherukuri, PhD, served as a vice president at Applied NanoFluorescence, where she spearheaded the design, development, and manufacturing of custom multimode spectroscopy systems. As part of this role, she led a Small Business Innovation Research (or SBIR) Phase I/II project to develop novel spectroscopic instrumentation for the National Institute of Standards and Technology. Previously, she was a senior scientist at Sanofi. Her background in scientific innovation, program leadership, and applied research brings valuable technical depth and strategic perspective to her role as the Veterinary Program’s director.

Because veterinary medicine plays a unique role in medical research, the Foundation is fostering, supporting, and developing an active focused ultrasound veterinary community. Beyond benefiting both companion animals and their owners, veterinary clinical studies also support the rapid translation of innovations from bench to bedside.

Now, in the director role, Dr. Cherukuri will oversee the Foundation’s veterinary research portfolio, which currently has 14 open clinical studies at 8 institutions with nearly $3 million in funding. These clinical trials are treating diseases such as osteosarcoma, oral tumors, lymphoma, and heart disease in companion animals. 

“I’m motivated to continue to advance the research priorities identified by the program’s scientific advisory board,” said Dr. Cherukuri. “Visiting several of our principal investigators and research sites has also given me great insights on what is needed to take the program to the next level.” 

“It was an easy decision to promote Tonya into this role,” said Foundation Chairman Neal F. Kassell, MD. “Her leadership skills and program knowledge make her a valuable asset to our veterinary community. We look forward to supporting her as she expands the program, adopts new clinical devices, and makes it possible for veterinarians to treat more and more of their patients with focused ultrasound.” 

After earning a BS in chemistry from Grand Valley State University and completing her PhD in physical chemistry at Rice University, Dr. Cherukuri completed a National Research Council postdoctoral fellowship in the Materials and Manufacturing Directorate at the Air Force Research Laboratory.

Learn More about the Veterinary Program

• The Foundation has funded six preclinical projects this year.
• Researchers are using focused ultrasound to develop innovative treatments for serious and cancerous conditions of the brain, heart, bones, and more.

The Foundation’s research program managers launched six preclinical projects in the first quarter of 2026. Two brain programs, the Immunotherapy Program, the Gene Therapy Program, and the Veterinary Program are advancing research that uses focused ultrasound to treat pediatric brain tumors, epilepsy, Alzheimer’s disease, heart failure, and hard-to-treat cancers in people and pets.

“These new awards reflect a diverse focused ultrasound portfolio spanning the mechanisms of immunotherapy, neuromodulation, drug delivery, and ablation to address a multitude of diseases,” said Joe Kilroy, PhD, the Foundation’s managing director of Science and Technology. “Through these projects, we are building a robust pipeline of translational studies to bring safe, effective therapies to patients young and old, and to both humans and companion animals.”

The guidelines for submitting a funding application to the Foundation are described below. 

Brain Tumors Program (1) 

Focused Ultrasound-Enabled Drug Delivery and Immunogenic Modulation to Sensitize Diffuse Midline Glioma to Immunotherapy led by Hong-Jian (James) Wei, PhD, at Virginia Tech* 
To improve the amount of drug delivery to diffuse midline glioma (DMG) tumors and also prevent them from hiding from the immune system, researchers will combine focused ultrasound with chemotherapy and immunotherapy in a murine brain tumor model. After using focused ultrasound to open the blood-brain barrier, the team will administer carboplatin followed by an immune checkpoint inhibitor to enhance the efficacy of the immunotherapy drug. The team will then measure tumor size, survival, and the immune response while also trying to understand the underlying molecular and immunologic mechanisms of the treatments.

Brain Program (Other) (1) 

Towards a Wearable Brain Ultrasound Solution for Seizure Control in Childhood Epilepsies led by Ivan Soltesz, PhD, at Stanford University
This project is being co-funded by CURE Epilepsy. It aims to develop a noninvasive treatment for a severe form of childhood epilepsy called Lennox–Gastaut syndrome, because current therapies often fail to control its frequent, debilitating seizures. Using advanced monitoring in animal models, the researchers will seek to determine whether focused ultrasound can be used to reduce abnormal brain activity linked to seizures. They will identify the safest and most effective ultrasound settings and test whether the approach can automatically detect and stop seizures in real time. If successful, this work could be translated into safer, surgery-free alternatives to current brain stimulation treatments and pave the way for devices designed specifically for children.

Gene Therapy Program (1) 

Focused Ultrasound–Enhanced Systemic Delivery of Lipid Nanoparticles for Brain-Wide Gene Therapy in Alzheimer’s Disease led by Kaiyuan Zheng, PhD, at Columbia University 
This project is part of the American Society of Cell and Gene Therapy’s fellowship program. It will explore whether repeated focused ultrasound–mediated blood-brain barrier opening can improve the delivery of gene therapy in the brain. Researchers will use lipid nanoparticles to encapsulate and focused ultrasound to deliver a widely recognized gene that is associated with the risk for developing Alzheimer’s disease.

Immunotherapy Program (1) 

Focused Ultrasound–Induced Neutrophil Reprogramming to Overcome Immunotherapy Resistance led by Allan Tsung, MD, at the University of Virginia* 
The immune system does not recognize and attack all types of cancer. For this project, researchers will use focused ultrasound histotripsy to break apart traditionally unresponsive tumors and then treat them with immunotherapy. They will use laboratory models to determine whether histotripsy can enhance the recruitment and activation of immune cells, control tumor growth, reduce the spread of the tumor, and improve immunotherapy effectiveness.

Veterinary Program (2) 

Noninvasive Atrial Septostomy Using Focused Ultrasound led by Giulio Menciotti, DVM, PhD, at Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine* 
Several heart diseases in dogs increase the pressure in the left atrium, the chamber that drains the lungs. This leads to fluid buildup, difficulty breathing, and eventual heart failure. Many of these diseases have no cure, and although treatment often involves a diuretic to reduce fluid buildup, the fluid will eventually return. Sometimes veterinarians perform surgery to make a small hole in the atrial septum to divert the fluid buildup from the lungs, which improves quality of life and survival; however, this surgery is costly and risky. For this project, researchers are seeking to determine whether focused ultrasound histotripsy can safely be used to make a hole in the septum and relieve the pressure in the heart chamber. The study will first conduct experiments on explanted tissue then move into in vivo testing.

Leveraging Combination Histotripsy Tumor Ablation and N-Dihydrogalactochitosan (GC) Immunostimulation to Advance Osteosarcoma Therapy led by JoAnne Tuohy, DVM, PhD, DACVS–Small Animal at Virginia Tech 
To continue to advance new treatments for osteosarcoma, the most common bone tumor in dogs and people, researchers are seeking to activate the immune system to fight the cancer. With the idea of combining GC (a novel immunotherapy that is being tested in human clinical trials) with focused ultrasound histotripsy, researchers will evaluate immune responses and disease progression in osteosarcoma after applying histotripsy-GC therapy in 6 dogs with osteosarcoma lesions. Additionally, 6 dogs will be treated with the standard of care therapy. Beyond measuring immune system activation, survival will be compared against that found with standard therapy.

*This project was funded by the Commonwealth of Virginia as a result of the Foundation’s advocacy efforts. 

Applicant Guide 
The Foundation’s Research Funding Applicant Guide describes its research priorities, two-part application process, what happens after a funding decision is made, and a Q&A on how to write a Letter of Intent (or “LOI”). 

Learn How to Apply for a Research Award 

Her visit provided a valuable opportunity to share how focused ultrasound is transforming the future of medicine, offering noninvasive treatment options, and advancing research across a wide range of conditions.

“We are grateful for Delegate Laufer’s interest in supporting innovation that benefits patients across the Commonwealth and beyond,” said Lauren Hadley, MD, the Foundation’s Associate Director of the Research and Education team.

Learn about the Foundation’s Advocacy Efforts

The project aims to develop a noninvasive treatment for a severe form of childhood epilepsy known as Lennox–Gastaut syndrome (LGS). The disease is typically marked by early-onset, drug-resistant seizures, and those living with LGS often experience significant cognitive and developmental impairment.

This preclinical research will test whether low-intensity focused ultrasound can transiently modulate activity in brain regions involved in seizure generation or propagation.

Focused ultrasound is a noninvasive technology that uses externally applied ultrasound waves focused through the skull or body to a precise target to produce therapeutic effects without incisions or radiation. In some applications, real-time imaging guidance is used to help plan, monitor, and optimize treatment parameters. Focused ultrasound has more than 35 global regulatory approvals and is in various stages of research and development for more than 180 diseases.

“LGS is a particularly devastating form of childhood-onset epilepsy, often affecting quality of life and neurodevelopment,” said Ivan Soltesz, PhD, professor of neurosurgery and neurosciences at Stanford University School of Medicine, who is leading the research. “It’s our hope that this collaboration will help chart the course for an effective, noninvasive treatment using low-intensity focused ultrasound.”

Using mouse models of LGS, Soltesz and his team aim to identify the safest and most effective ultrasound parameters and explore whether the approach could modulate seizures in real time. If successful, the work could lead to clinical trials in humans and pave the way for a safer, surgery-free alternative to current brain stimulation treatments.

This collaboration between the Focused Ultrasound Foundation and CURE Epilepsy underscores a shared commitment to accelerating innovative treatment options and builds on a 2025 workshop co-hosted by the two organizations. The event, which was sponsored by focused ultrasound companies Insightec, NaviFUS, and SPIRE Therapeutics, convened more than 50 participants to assess the current state of the science in epilepsy and identify critical unmet needs, resulting in a detailed white paper.

One in 26 people in the United States will be diagnosed with epilepsy in their lifetime, and 50 million people worldwide live with the disorder. It affects more people than multiple sclerosis, muscular dystrophy, Parkinson’s disease, and ALS combined. Yet, despite its prevalence, epilepsy receives less federal funding per person compared to these other brain disorders, which leads to critical gaps in research.

“Current medications fail to control seizures in nearly one-third of people with epilepsy, and for many who do respond, side effects impair quality of life,” said Laura Lubbers, PhD, chief scientific officer of CURE Epilepsy. “Innovative, noninvasive treatments that can both control seizures and reduce side effects are urgently needed—making focused ultrasound an especially exciting and promising approach to treat epilepsy.”

Epilepsy remains an area of great potential for focused ultrasound, with multiple clinical trials underway exploring its therapeutic applications.

“For patients with severe epilepsy that is not responsive to medications, today’s options are often limited and invasive, and focused ultrasound has the potential to change that by offering a noninvasive way to precisely target the circuits that drive seizures,” said Neal F. Kassell, MD, founder and chairman of the Focused Ultrasound Foundation. “This collaboration is an important step toward making that possibility a reality.”

About the Focused Ultrasound Foundation
Based in Charlottesville, VA, the Focused Ultrasound Foundation was created to improve the lives of millions of people worldwide by accelerating the development of focused ultrasound, a rapidly evolving, noninvasive technology. The Foundation works to clear the path to global adoption by organizing and funding research, fostering collaboration, and building awareness among patients and professionals. Since its establishment in 2006, the Foundation has become the largest nongovernmental funding source for focused ultrasound research. Learn more at FUSfoundation.org.

About CURE Epilepsy
CURE Epilepsy is a parent-founded, research-focused nonprofit committed to finding a cure for epilepsy. Epilepsy is a complex, often debilitating neurological disorder that affects 1 in 26 Americans. Since 1998, the organization has invested in cutting-edge research to fill critical funding gaps and advance understanding of epilepsy’s underlying mechanisms. CURE Epilepsy has raised more than $100 million and funded over 300 research projects—more than any other nongovernmental organization in the United States. These efforts have contributed to breakthroughs in genetic diagnosis, potential treatments for infantile spasms, and improved understanding of sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP). Learn more at CUREepilepsy.org.

The Foundation will host a landmark event, “Celebrating Focused Ultrasound: The Future is Now,” November 11-13, 2026, in McLean, Virginia.

What began as a bold vision – to harness this revolutionary, noninvasive technology to transform the lives of millions of patients – is now a reality.

The field of focused ultrasound has advanced from research and development into clinical adoption, and the technology is now accepted as a critical element in the therapeutic armamentarium. To date, more than one million patients worldwide have benefited from focused ultrasound. 

To commemorate this extraordinary progress and recognize the Foundation’s 20th Anniversary, we invite you to join us for a celebration that will convene the global focused ultrasound community.

Useful Links:

• Celebration Website
• Preliminary Program
• Register Now
• Submit a Poster Abstract | Deadline: July 27
• Sponsors
• Venue and Hotel Reservations

• The Foundation is pleased to sponsor an American Society of Gene and Cell Therapy (ASGCT) Career Development Award for a second year. 
• The 2026 recipient is Kaiyuan Zheng, PhD, a postdoctoral researcher at Columbia University. 

Kaiyuan Zheng, PhD, is the recipient of the Foundation-sponsored American Society of Gene and Cell Therapy (ASGCT) Career Development Award for 2026. 

This is the second annual ASGCT award funded by the Foundation to support independent transformative pilot studies in gene and cell therapy. The award is particularly intended to develop ideas that would be challenging to fund with traditional funding mechanisms. Each $100,000 grant helps an early career researcher generate preliminary data that can lead to more substantial follow-on funding. 

Dr. Zheng is a postdoctoral research scientist in the Department of Biomedical Engineering at Columbia University. Her project “Focused Ultrasound–Enhanced Systemic Delivery of Lipid Nanoparticles for Gene Therapy in Alzheimer’s Disease” will explore whether focused ultrasound can enable noninvasive and targeted delivery of nonviral gene editors to the brain. By temporarily and locally opening the blood-brain barrier, focused ultrasound can significantly improve the overall therapeutic potential of genetic interventions. This project will integrate focused ultrasound with Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats (CRISPR)–based gene editing and advanced nanoparticle engineering to develop more precise and effective treatments for Alzheimer’s disease. 

“Positioned at the intersection of biomedical engineering, nanomaterial development, and gene therapy, my project aims to advance next-generation strategies for treating Alzheimer’s disease and other neurodegenerative diseases,” said Dr. Zheng “I am honored to receive this award from the Focused Ultrasound Foundation and ASGCT. My research is dedicated to developing noninvasive approaches for precise brain gene delivery and editing, with the long-term goal of enabling safer and more effective therapeutic strategies for neurological diseases.” 

“Supporting early-career researchers is essential to driving innovation in this space, and to ensuring that fresh ideas and pioneering approaches continue to shape the future of gene therapy, said Frédéric Padilla, PhD, director of the Foundation’s Gene and Cell Therapy Program. “Our partnership with ASGCT plays a crucial role in bringing in new talent with complementary expertise in gene and cell therapy, helping us identify the most promising research directions, and ensuring we focus on the most relevant challenges.” 

Dr. Zheng joins 12 other ASGCT Career Development Award Recipients this year, three of which were also funded by partner organizations. See all of the awardees.  

Learn More About ASGCT Career Development Awards 

The Focused Ultrasound Foundation, in partnership with leading industry partners, is pleased to announce our second year of  FUSF-Industry Summer Internships, a program designed to provide hands-on experience for undergraduate students interested in focused ultrasound technology and its applications. This unique opportunity will allow selected interns to work alongside experts in the field, gaining invaluable industry insights and contributing to cutting-edge research and development.  

FUSF-Industry interns will also be encouraged to network with experts in the field. The internships are a full-time and paid work opportunity. 

The program is being co-funded by the Foundation and industry partners. All internships will take place in summer 2026, though the exact dates and locations are to be determined by each industry sponsor. Specific fields of interest include engineering, biomedical sciences, physics, medical imaging, data science, and other related disciplines. 

Eligibility 
Applicants should be current undergraduate students in relevant fields with a strong academic background and interest in focused ultrasound technology. The ability to work independently and collaboratively in a professional setting is required, as is US work authorization, if working within the US. 

Available Internships 
The following companies are currently offering internship opportunities. Click the logos below to learn more about the available position. 

Tucson, Arizona, USA

Sunnyvale, California, USA

Indianapolis, Indiana, USA

Alpharetta, Georgia, USA

Europe (remote position)

United States (remote position)

Application Process 

Interested candidates should submit the following materials to industryinternship@fusfoundation.org by April 21, 2026. Applicants may only apply for one internship. 

1. Resume or CV detailing academic background, work experience, and relevant skills. 

2. Statement of Interest describing your motivation for applying, relevant experience, and career aspirations. Please also specify the position for which you are applying. (maximum 500 words) 

Candidates will be notified of their status by May 15, 2026. 

This is a unique opportunity to gain hands-on experience and shape the future of focused ultrasound technology. Don’t miss your chance to be part of this exciting initiative! 

For more information, please contact the Director of the FUS Scholars Program, Lauren Hadley, MD. 

Informational Webinar
This session is co-hosted by Lauren Hadley, Foundation Director of FUS Scholars, and Aleena Bosky, a former FUSF-Industry intern who was so inspired by her experience that she wanted to bring the opportunity to more students. They are joined by fellow interns from last summer and representatives from the industry partner companies – giving you a firsthand look at what the program is really like.