The use of focused ultrasound as a treatment for long-term substance abuse and addiction is gaining steam, with the West Virginia University’s (WVU) Rockefeller Neuroscience Institute (RNI) receiving a $2 million grant to conduct further research on the technique.
The donation comes from the Encova Foundation of West Virginia, which supports care initiatives that improve public health.
The funding will facilitate the expansion of clinical trials on focused ultrasound, specifically the procurement of equipment and the recruitment of skilled clinicians to conduct the research on the utilization of focused ultrasound to target the nucleus accumbens, a crucial brain structure implicated in addiction and anxiety.
“In order to advance treatments for this worsening public health crisis, new approaches and ideas must be explored,” Ali Rezai, M.D., executive chair of the RNI, said in a statement. “We are deeply appreciative of the Encova Foundation’s partnership and support as we work to develop innovative treatments that could save lives and develop new addiction treatments.”
RNI hopes their studies will lead to new treatments for addiction. The institute spearheaded the world's first safety and feasibility study on focused ultrasound neuromodulation for addiction. Initial findings from this study have demonstrated a notable reduction in drug cravings among participants, indicating the potential efficacy of this innovative approach.
The donation was secured by the WVU Foundation, the nonprofit wing of the university that receives and administers private donations to fund clinical research initiatives.
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