The Focused Ultrasound Surgery Foundation announced the premier international symposium on best and future practices for magnetic resonance guided focused ultrasound surgery (MRgFUS) will take place October 6-7 in Washington, DC.

Dr. Neal F. Kassell, professor of neurosurgery at the University of Virginia and Chairman of the Foundation board, states, "Although there has been significant work done around the world in the field for a number of years, it isn't until you see it all come together like this that you begin to understand the true potential of this technology to meet the challenges of modern medicine with less invasive and more effective treatment."

"This will help physicians realize the potential of MRgFUS in mainstream medicine. This meeting will be a great opportunity for the whole field to work together to accelerate the pace of development and collaboration for MRgFUS," said King C. Li, M.D., F.R.C.P(C)., M.B.A., Anderson Foundation Distinguished Chair in Radiology and Imaging Sciences, Professor of Radiology, Weill Cornell Medical College, Chair, Department of Radiology, The Methodist Hospital, Houston, TX
Leading experts to attend
More than 75 multidisciplinary clinicians, scientists and engineers representing over 12 countries will be featured in the symposium. The program will highlight the latest research, span current and future practices and discuss training and reimbursement. Any medical professional interested in academia, clinical treatment facilities and development should plan to go.

In addition to Kassell and Li, distinguished experts invited to attend are:
* Victor Frenkel, Ph.D., Head, Therapeutic Ultrasound Research Molecular Imaging Lab, Diagnostic Radiology Department, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD
* David Gianfelice, M.D., Division Head of VIR, University Health Network, Toronto, Canada
* William C. Culp, M.D., Professor of Radiology & Surgery, Chief of Interventional Radiology, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
* William G. Bradley, Jr., M.D., Ph.D., F.A.C.R., Professor and Chairman, Department of Radiology, University of California San Diego Medical Center
* Mario Zuccarello, M.D., Professor; Director, Division of Neurosurgery, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine
* Clare M. C. Tempany, M.D., Professor of Radiology, Harvard Medical School, Ferenc Jolesz Chair of Radiology Research, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA
* Peter T. Scardino, M.D., F.A.C.S., Chair, Department of Surgery, Florence and Theodore Baumritter & Enid Ancell Chair of Urologic Oncology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY

Breakthrough technology
The breakthrough MRgFUS technology is an alternative to radiation therapy poised to address a host of oncological, neurological and gynecological disorders. It integrates a high intensity focused ultrasound beam to non-invasively destroy targeted tissue with Magnetic Resonance Imaging system (MRI), to visualize patient anatomy and control treatment, as it monitors the tissue-effect in real time.

The Focused Ultrasound Surgery Foundation, based in Charlottesville, VA, serves as a channel to increase awareness and adoption of MRgFUS.