AI-Powered Ultrasound Research Expands Possibilities for Treating and Monitoring Brain Disease
A study led by Associate Professor Costas Arvanitis takes a major step toward safer and more effective treatment and diagnosis of brain diseases. His team’s research, published in Advanced Science, shows how combining artificial intelligence (AI) with focused ultrasound can safely deliver therapies and improve diagnostic interventions to the brain. The study addresses one of medicine’s toughest challenges: the blood-brain barrier (BBB). The BBB is a thin, microscopic interface that protects the brain but also blocks most drugs and diagnostic molecules. This makes treating and monitoring brain tumors and neurological diseases extremely difficult. Strategies to safely and effectively overcome the BBB are critical for the diagnosis, treatment, and monitoring of central nervous system diseases.
Dr Chulyong Kim is the recipient of the 2025 Lockhart Postdoctoral Fellowship, which is awarded by the FUS foundation and aims to support and nurture outstanding young investigators whose career is focused on advancing the frontiers of Focused Ultrasound and Immuno-Oncology.
Dr. Chulyong Kim is the recipient of the Young Investigator Award at the international congress on hyperthermic-oncology
Andrei is the recipient of the President’s Undergraduate Research Awards that will support him to conduct research at UBBL on macrophage mechanobiology.
Dr Costas Arvanitis was elected to the board of directors of the International Society for Therapeutic Ultrasound, representing the Americas. He will serve from 2025-2028.
New Insights into Microbubble Dynamics and Blood-Brain Barrier Function: A Collaborative Breakthrough
Our latest research on the coupled behavior of microbubble dynamics in brain vessels and the impact of microbubble resonant effects on the blood-brain barrier signaling and function has just been published. Great leadership by Yutong Guo and excellent team work by Hohyun (Henry) Lee, Chulyong Kim, Christian Park, Akane Yamamichi, Polly Chuntova, Ph.D., Marco Gallus, Miguel O. Bernabeu, Hideho Okada, and Hanjoong Jo. Paper and press release.
Chulyong Kim Wins Outstanding Poster Award at 2024 Advancing Gene + Cell Therapy for Cancer Conference!
Congratulations to Chulyong Kim on being the recipient of the Outstanding Poster Award for the abstract entitled “Focused Ultrasound Mediated Thermogenetic Control of CAR T Cell Activity in Breast Cancer Brain Metastasis” from the American Society of Gene & Cell Therapy‘s 2024 Advancing Gene + Cell Therapy for Cancer Conference!.
Ashley Wins Biomedical Acoustics student poster competition at 184th ASA meeting in Chicago for “Tracking Macrophages with Ultrasound”
Dr. Costas Arvanitis is the recipient of the Mentor of the Year Award at Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering!
https://www.me.gatech.edu/news/faculty-and-staff-recognized-woodruff-school-awards.
Yutong receives Young Investigator Award at the 8th International Symposium on Focused Ultrasound.
Science Advances publishes Henry’s work on real-time monitoring and control of micro-bubble dynamics, congrats!!
Ashley acknowledged for being 2021 Outstanding ECE Teaching Assistant, Congratulations!!
Ashley among CRIDC 2022 Winners, Congratulations!!
The Career, Research, and Innovation Development Conference (CRIDC) is Georgia Tech’s professional development event for graduate students. Ashley was awarded $2k conference fund in the poster competition from the Office of the Executive Vice President for Research. Many congratulations.
Dr. Arvanitis Promoted to Associate Professor with Tenure, Congratulations!
Dr. Costas Arvanitis is among five professors from the George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering awarded promotion, effective August 15, 2022. Congratulations to these outstanding teachers, researchers, and leaders on taking the next step in their careers. https://www.me.gatech.edu/news/woodruff-school-faculty-promotions-2022
Dr. Arvanitis Featured in GT ME News!
Excerpt from the news article: Thanks to NSF funding Alper Erturk (ME), Costas Arvanitis (ME/BME), Brooks Lindsey (BME), and their colleagues are exploring ways to use vibrations and waves to develop enhanced imaging, diagnosis, and therapy of the skull-brain system, potentially paving the way for the treatment of brain tumors, detection of traumas and skull-related defects, mapping of the brain function, and neurostimulation, as well as new methods of drug delivery for treatment of diseases such as Alzheimer’s.”
Henry Recognized at FUS Foundation
Henry Lee’s work was highlighted at the 7th International Symposium on Focused Ultrasound. His abstract “A Benchtop Focused Ultrasound System for Drug Screening Investigations in Central Nervous System” earned the highest peer-reviewed rating among the Foundation’s recent Global Interns.You can see the presentation here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=StLW4nnGnsE&feature=youtu.be Congrats Henry!”
Yutong Wins CRS Fundamental Research Award!
Yutong was awarded the Controlled Release Society’s (CRS) Nanoscale Delivery Fundamental Research Award for her paper, “Improved nanoparticle extravasation and penetration in brain tumors with focused ultrasound.”
Dr. Arvanitis Receives NIH MERIT Award!
Dr. Arvanitis has received an R37 MERIT Award from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) National Cancer Institute; the first MERIT award for Georgia Tech (the MERIT Award grants support to “investigators with stellar records of research accomplishment”).The grant will support further research into novel closed-loop image guidance methods and targeted drug delivery, with co-investigators Prof. Levent Degertekin (Woodruff School at Georgia Tech), Dr. Chetan Bettegowda (Johns Hopkins University), Dr. Tobey MacDonald (Winship Cancer Institute, Emory University), and Dr. Anton Bryksin (Georgia Tech).”
Nature Review Cancer Paper Accepted!
Our review paper on “The blood–brain barrier and blood–tumor barrier in brain tumors and metastases” has been accepted for publication at Nature Review Cancer.
WhatIFF Symposium
Dr. Arvanitis will present at the upcoming WhatIFF Symposium in Atlanta on September 13-14.
Scott wins Provost’s Award
Scott Schoen Jr received the Provost’s award at the 2019 CRIDIC poster competition!
PNAS Paper Accepted
Our latest article on enhanced blood-brain barrier disruption has been published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. Several outlets have already picked up the story
NSF LEAP HI Funding
UB²L and their collaborators receive a Leading Engineering grant from NSF (LEAP HI)
CURE Foundation Grant
UB²L and their collaborators at Emory Hospital receive a grant from the CURE foundation!