World's First 'Bench–to-Bedside' MRI, Ultrasound Platform

In a world where expertise and technology have enabled unprecedented biomedical breakthroughs, the need to accelerate the translation of basic science into clinical treatments is greater than ever.

To answer the call, Florida Atlantic University unveiled the world’s first research initiative that unites advanced MRI and focused ultrasound technologies into a single, preclinical and clinical research platform, which promises to shorten the pathway from scientific discovery to patient care. The initiative is part of the Florida Atlantic NeuroInnovate Center and spans the university’s Boca Raton and Jupiter campuses, including at the Stiles-Nicholson Brain Institute.

“Never before has a single institution integrated preclinical and clinical imaging with focused ultrasound capabilities within one comprehensive, unified research environment,” said FAU President Adam Hasner. “We are excited to lead the way in bringing revolutionary research and technologies to the frontlines of medicine.”

The enhanced system allows researchers to move seamlessly from lab-based studies, which use animal models, to real-time human trials with the goal of developing non-invasive treatments for neurological disorders such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases, autism and more.

“This one-of-a-kind platform enables us to perform preclinical research at an entirely new level,” said Randy D. Blakely, Ph.D., executive director of the Stiles-Nicholson Brain Institute. “By studying brain function in animal models with high-resolution functional and structural MRI, we can uncover fundamental mechanisms that underlie complex neurological and neurodevelopmental conditions. These models are essential for building the knowledge base that drives translational breakthroughs. With this integrated benchto- bedside initiative, our discoveries in the lab can more efficiently inform the development of therapies that ultimately benefit patients.”

This initiative is a culmination of years of collaboration among disciplines, institutions, and scientific and health care partners and marks the beginning of a new era of medical science. Florida Atlantic is poised to deliver a future in which disease is better understood and effectively treated from “bench to bedside.”