The Focused Ultrasound Foundation and Royal Philips have entered into a public-private collaboration with The Institute of Cancer Research (ICR), London, and The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust. The partnership will create a focal point for ultrasound therapy research at ICR and The Royal Marsden in London under the international Focused Ultrasound Foundation Centers of Excellence Program.

The initiative will create a state-of-the-art resource for clinicians and scientists working on high intensity focused ultrasound therapy, developing clinical evidence in oncology and establishing best practices, treatment standards and protocols. Focused ultrasound concentrates ultrasound energy with high precision on target tissue in the body to thermally destroy tissue. The technology is coupled with image guidance to identify, target and track the treatment in real time. The initiative will launch this autumn with a clinical trial to evaluate treatment of bone metastases in cancer patients.

"High intensity focused ultrasound therapy has tremendous potential in oncology and many other key clinical areas," said Gail ter Haar, DSc., coordinator of the initiative. "To achieve this, we need to collaborate in new ways, establish standards for consistent delivery of treatment and train those who will deliver that care.”