Official websites use .gov

A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.

Secure .gov websites use HTTPS

A lock ( 🔒 ) or https:// means you've safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Need Help

Volumetric ultrasound for functional imaging and multi-targeted closed-loop circuit level neuromodulation

Award Number: R01EB037345
ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE Of BIOMEDICAL IMAGING & BIOENGINEERING
OPDIV: NIH
AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY
AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: SCIENTIFIC/HEALTH RESEARCH (INCLUDES SURVEYS)
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 04/07/2026
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 01/31/2030

Group Awards By:

View Award Description

Volumetric ultrasound for functional imaging and multi-targeted closed-loop circuit level neuromodulation - PROJECT SUMMARY This application aims to develop advanced ultrasound systems that enable precise imaging, targeting, and delivery of neurotherapies with real-time feedback control. The current standard in ultrasonic neuromodulation currently relies on MRI both to target the ultrasound focus and to assess the brain’s functional response. However, being in the magnet bore typically requires anesthesia, which limits the range of observation of neuromodulatory effects, especially for realistic behavioral scenarios which do not occur in a magnet. Furthermore, fMRI operates on the order of minutes, which is slow compared to the natural time scale of the neurovascular response (tens to hundreds of milliseconds) thus impairing the ability of MRI to appropriately sample neurological responses. Our proposal focuses on developing techniques to resolve the persistent challenges of a) identifying relevant brain circuits b) targeting multiple locations within brain circuits, and c) establishing real-time closed-loop interaction between the imaging and neuromodulatory systems. These objectives are achieved with functional imaging and neuromodulation to dynamically and reconfigurably target multiple locations in the brain using next-generation volumetric ultrasound tools. Volumetric circuit-level interaction with closed-loop feedback should provide better control over spatial and temporal targeting. Even simple behaviors arise from the simultaneous activation of multiple regions in the brain. Thus, the ability to simultaneously stimulate multiple regions within a brain circuit should allow for better modulation of function where it is needed and offer more control over behavioral outcomes compared to conventional, focused or static approaches. Functional ultrasound (fUS) imaging, which has been recently developed, measures transient changes in blood volume at high spatio-temporal resolution (100 μm, 100ms), fills the gap between whole brain imaging and microscopy. To achieve a leap in performance, functional ultrasound imaging will be combined with super-resolution ultrasound imaging to provide quantitative imaging of the local hemodynamics and neurovascular response (velocity, flow, microvascular organization). Whole brain and multifocal beamforming and algorithms will be designed for a programmable ultrasound system to detect functional activity in real time. A multifocal neuromodulatory array will be designed and integrated directly into the imaging system for co- registered targeting. Validation and characterization of the imaging sequences, circuit-level targeting, and feedback control between the volumetric imaging and therapeutic neuromodulatory systems will occur in small animals before translating to large animals. Our approach is developed in a partnership between UNC for the imaging and acoustical development and with Vanderbilt for validation and deployment in clinically relevant large animal models. If successful, these techniques will offer the possibility of high-spatiotemporal resolution and non- invasive volumetric closed-loop neuromodulation in awake and behaving animals, providing a powerful platform for neuroscientific investigation and precision therapy.


Issue Date FY	Funding FY	Legal Entity Name	Legal Entity Address	Legal Entity City	Legal Entity State	Legal Entity Zip Code	Legal Entity COUNTY	Legal Entity COUNTRY	Assistance Listing	Award Code	Budget Year	Action Date	Action Type	Action Amount

Issue Date FY: 2026 ( Subtotal = $570,612 )
2026	2026	UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA AT CHAPEL HILL	104 AIRPORT DR STE 2200	CHAPEL HILL	NC	27599	ORANGE	USA	Discovery and Applied Research for Technological Innovations to Improve Human Health	000	1	4/6/2026	NEW	$570,612
														Subtotal = $570,612

Grand Total All Awards = $570,612

Top

All Categories

About

Search

Reports

Data Submission

Award Information

Volumetric ultrasound for functional imaging and multi-targeted closed-loop circuit level neuromodulation

Award Number: R01EB037345

ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE Of BIOMEDICAL IMAGING & BIOENGINEERING

OPDIV: NIH

AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY

AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: SCIENTIFIC/HEALTH RESEARCH (INCLUDES SURVEYS)

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 04/07/2026

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 01/31/2030

Federal Websites

Department of Health & Human Services

HHS Operating Divisions

HHS Staff Divisions

Download A Document Viewer