WVU Rockefeller Neuroscience Institute Expands Research on Food Addiction and PTSD with Focused Ultrasound
Key Insights
The WVU Rockefeller Neuroscience Institute (search) received $2 million in state funding to expand clinical research using focused ultrasound neuromodulation.
Clinical trials will target food addiction (search) and post-traumatic stress disorder (search) (PTSD), building on prior work in Alzheimer's and substance use disorder (search).
Focused ultrasound, combined with antibody treatment, has shown promise in clearing amyloid-beta (search) plaques in Alzheimer's patients, as published in NEJM.
The West Virginia University (WVU) Rockefeller Neuroscience Institute (RNI) is set to broaden its research into food addiction (search) and post-traumatic stress disorder (search) (PTSD) through the use of focused ultrasound neuromodulation, supported by a $2 million supplemental appropriation from the West Virginia Legislature. This funding enables the RNI to initiate first-in-the-world clinical research studies, leveraging its expertise in focused ultrasound technology.
Dr. Ali Rezai, executive chair of the RNI, along with WVU President Gordon Gee, welcomed state officials to announce the expansion. "With their continued support, West Virginia University is on the cutting edge of patient care and neurological research," Gee stated.
Advancing Neuromodulation Techniques
The RNI's previous research, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, demonstrated that focused ultrasound, when combined with anti-amyloid-beta (search) monoclonal antibody treatment, can accelerate the clearance of amyloid-beta plaques in Alzheimer’s disease (search) patients. This study, featured on CBS News' "60 Minutes," highlighted the potential of this technology. The RNI team has also shown that focused ultrasound is safe and can reduce cravings and drug use in individuals with addiction.
Clinical Trials for Addiction and PTSD
Building on these findings, the RNI plans to initiate clinical trials aimed at reducing cravings associated with food addiction (search) and alleviating triggers and symptoms of PTSD, particularly in veterans. The focused ultrasound approach offers a non-invasive method to modulate brain activity and potentially mitigate the neurological underpinnings of these conditions.
Leadership Perspective
"On behalf of the RNI team, I would like to thank Gov. Justice, Speaker Roger Hanshaw, and the West Virginia Legislature for their visionary leadership and support in making West Virginia a world leader in research innovation for the treatment of addictions, PTSD, and Alzheimer’s disease (search)," Rezai commented.