Through the support of the Commonwealth of Virginia, Virginia Tech is pleased to announce a request for applications for support from the Virginia Tech Focused Ultrasound Innovation Fund.

The Fund will support innovative use of focused ultrasound for research purposes to accelerate the pace of discovery and its translation to improve health outcomes.

The Fund is intended to support research projects that will result in high impact publications, follow-on extramural funding and ultimately transformational advances in health. For CY24, several projects can be supported at up to $150,000 each. A portion of the budget may be dedicated to core usage to purchase time on equipment located at the FBRI (see equipment descriptions below) or at other collaborator institutions.

Core equipment available for scheduled use at Fralin Biomedical Research Institute (FBRI) are the following:

INSIGHTEC Exablate Neuro V2 Focused Ultrasound System: 

FINSIGHTEC Exablate Neuro V2 focused ultrasound is guided by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The technology is paired with a Siemens MAGNETOM Prisma 3T imaging system that is part of the research institute's large bore MRI facilities. Website: https://fbri.vtc.vt.edu/core-services/focused-ultrasound.html  The INSIGHTEC Exablate Neuro V2 Focused Ultrasound System can deliver ultrasound energy deep in the brain to create a lesion with no incisions. It is currently approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for clinical use in humans to treat brain disorders, such as essential tremors and Parkinson’s-associated tremors. It is also being evaluated for use in the treatment of solid tumors and neurological disorders rooted deep inside the brain with incredible precision.  The current usage rate for the fMRI/FUS is $500 per hour.  Note, service center rates are reviewed annually and may change.

The facility offers consulting services for proposals. FBRI can provide a letter of support, biosketch, and preliminary images/figures for the researchers' grant proposals. Please contact Dr. Jason Raymond (jlraymond@vtc.vt.edu) for further information.

RK-300 MRI-guided Focused Ultrasound (Small bore systems):

The RK-300 Focused ultrasound system provides the energy to perform non-invasive hyperthermia, ablation, and blood-brain barrier opening within a small-bore preclinical imaging system. High-field magnetic resonance imaging is used to identify and target the regions to be treated, guide and control the treatment in real time, and confirm the effectiveness of the treatment. The equipment is outfitted with an isoflurane anesthesia system (Stoelting Link 7), EEG, and respiration monitoring as well as temperature control. The machine and monitoring equipment is controlled via separate workstations. A secondary workstation is available for image analysis and processing connected to the institute's servers. Within these rooms, there are separate sample preparation and recovery areas as well as sample handling areas.  The current usage rate is $250 per hour. Note, service center rates are reviewed annually and may change.

The core offers consulting services for proposals. FBRI can provide a letter of support, biosketch, and preliminary images/figures for researchers’ grant proposals as long as the procedures are covered by our imaging protocol (20-196). Please contact Dr. Maosen Wang (maosen@vtc.vt.edu) for more information.

RFA Details:

  • All primary faculty and research faculty at Virginia Tech are eligible to submit proposals as principal investigators (PIs).
  • Projects may include collaborators as Co-PIs from other units at Virginia Tech.
  • All funding and expenditures must be made through the PI.
  • Awards will be made through a competitive process. Recipients shall be selected by a panel appointed by the Executive Director of the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute with final recommendations for funding made by the Executive Director.
  • The RFP deadline for this funding cycle is noon November 27, 2023.
  • For consideration of funding, submit a two page proposal to Dr. Hal Irvin at hirvin@vtc.vt.edu with: i) project title; ii) PI name, affiliation and position; iii) names of any Co-Is; iv) brief abstract; v) specific aims; vi) brief description of research plan and goals to be accomplished within the 12 month time frame.
  • On separate pages, provide an NIH style biosketch for the PI and any Co-Is.
  • On separate pages, provide a proposed simple budget (template attached) with specification of categories (e.g. research personnel salary support, supplies, core service time, patient and/or animal costs, etc.) and estimated amounts to be allocated to each category.
  • Funds cannot be used for PI or Co-I salaries, equipment or subcontracting.
  • No matching funds are required but if the project involves collaborations with a Co-I at an institution other than the FBRI, and they are going to contribute additional support, funding or effort to the project, those details should be noted.
  • Funding should be used within the period of performance January 1, 2024 – December 31, 2024.
  • At the end of the funding cycle, awardees will be expected to provide a summary of the accomplishment of goals that will be shared with the Focused Ultrasound Foundation.
  • Publications and publicity based wholly or partially on the work supported by the Focused Ultrasound Foundation Innovation Fund should acknowledge the support of the Fund.
  • Budget template provided in Excel format/file.
  • All budgets will include a 30% FUS Core Facility Support Fee.  This component will calculate automatically in the budget template.  This fee will support FUS core personnel and the annual cost of the FUS service contract.