Research
Research
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My research primarily focuses on therapeutic ultrasound and advanced imaging monitoring techniques, aiming to enhance clinical applications and improve patient outcomes.
Key Contributions:
Feedback Controller for Microbubble Activity: Developed a feedback controller for microbubble activity, facilitating ultrasound-mediated blood-brain barrier (BBB) disruption, significantly advancing targeted drug delivery methods (Kamimura et al., 2018).
Techniques for Target Specificity: Pioneered techniques that achieve superior target specificity in ultrasound neuromodulation (Kamimura et al. 2016) and ultrasound-mediated BBB disruption (Kamimura et al. 2015).
Throughout my career, I have conducted industry-oriented research projects, collaborating closely with companies such Google X (USA) and IGT (France), as well as the Focused Ultrasound Foundation to drive innovation. I have co-authored grant proposals that have successfully secured funding for clinical research initiatives, resulting in four clinical trials based on my work. My contributions have secured significant financial support, totaling approximately US$450k in the USA, €600k in France, and R$714k in Brazil.
In addition to my research accomplishments, I hold five patents, highlighting my commitment to translating research into practical applications. I have published over 30 peer-reviewed papers, contributing to the advancement of knowledge in the fields of therapeutic ultrasound and biomedical engineering.
Ongoing Research Interests:
Exploring innovative methodologies for ultrasound ablation and neuromodulation.
Developing sophisticated imaging-based monitoring techniques that enhance the precision of therapeutic interventions.
Investigating the integration of ultrasound technologies with emerging therapeutic approaches for improved treatment efficacy.
I am passionate about bridging the gap between scientific research and clinical practice, continually striving to translate my findings into tangible benefits for patients.
Ultrasound neuromodulation
Focused ultrasound (FUS) modulates the activity of cortical and subcortical brain structures causing the elicitation of motor movements and pupillary dilation. This technique could potentially be used to explore brain connectivity, verify targets prior to ablative procedures, suppress epileptic seizures, and temporarily block nerves to treat pain.
Feedback control for ultrasound-mediated Blood-Brain Barrier opening
FUS in combination with microbubbles is also capable of noninvasive, site-targeted deliver drugs through the BBB, a protective layer of blood vessels that prevents potentially effective drugs from reaching the parenchyma.
Chirp and random pulses for FUS-mediated BBB opening
Standing waves can be formed in the brain, which causes poor targeting and can bring risks during brain sonication. In this study, we used frequency variation (chirp and random) to avoid standing wave formation in vivo.
Transducer Development
I have been working with transducer development that includes simulations and prototypes.
Kamimura et al. 2012 and Medeiros et al. 2015.
Vibro-acoustography
This imaging technique mixes two co-focused ultrasound beams to form a low frequency component that can vibrate biological tissues with high resolution. Please, take a look on my experimental papers Kamimura et al. 2013 , and Nogueira et al. 2017 and Baggio et al. 2017.
Clinical trials
Clinical trials
Focused ultrasound‐induced peripheral nerve modulation (P.I.: Prof. Elisa Konofagou, co-P.I.: Hermes Kamimura)
https://www.fusfoundation.org/the-technology/research-sites/research-projects/a0J3j00001JMmhkEAD
Lee, S. A.; Kamimura, H.A.S.; Konofagou, E. Displacement imaging during focused ultrasound median nerve modulation: A preliminary study in human pain sensation mitigation, IEEE Transactions on Ultrasonics Ferroelectrics and Frequency Control, 68(3), p. 526 - 537. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1109/TUFFC.2020.3014183
Kamimura, H.A.S.; Conti, A.; Toschi, N.; Konofagou, E.E. Ultrasound neuromodulation: mechanisms and the potential of multimodal stimulation for neuronal function assessment, Frontiers in Physics. 8:150. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fphy.2020.00150
Lee, S.A.; Kamimura, H.A.S.; Burgess, M.T.; Konofagou, E.E. Displacement imaging for focused ultrasound peripheral nerve neuromodulation, IEEE Transactions on Medical Imaging 39(11):3391-3402, (2020). DOI: https://doi.org/10.1109/TMI.2020.2992498
Kamimura, H.A.S.; Lee, S.A.; Niimi, Y.; Aurup, C.; Kim, M.G.; and Konofagou, EE. "Focused ultrasound stimulation of median nerve modulates somatosensory evoked responses," 2019 IEEE International Ultrasonics Symposium (IUS), Glasgow, United Kingdom, 2019, pp. 1085-1087, DOI: https://doi.org/10.1109/ULTSYM.2019.8925881
Breast Elasticity Imaging During Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy
https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04824027
Saharkhiz N, Ha R, Taback B, Li XJ, Weber R, Nabavizadeh A, Lee SA, Hibshoosh H, Gatti V, Kamimura HAS, Konofagou EE. Harmonic motion imaging of human breast masses: an in vivo clinical feasibility. Sci Rep. 2020 Sep 17;10(1):15254. doi: 10.1038/s41598-020-71960-5
Non-invasive Blood-brain Barrier Opening in Alzheimer's Disease Patients Using Focused Ultrasound
https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04118764
Wu SY, Aurup C, Sanchez CS, Grondin J, Zheng W, Kamimura H, Ferrera VP, Konofagou EE. Efficient Blood-Brain Barrier Opening in Primates with Neuronavigation-Guided Ultrasound and Real-Time Acoustic Mapping. Sci Rep. 2018 May 22;8(1):7978. doi: 10.1038/s41598-018-25904-9
Pouliopoulos AN, Wu SY, Burgess MT, Karakatsani ME, Kamimura HAS, Konofagou EE. A Clinical System for Non-invasive Blood-Brain Barrier Opening Using a Neuronavigation-Guided Single-Element Focused Ultrasound Transducer. Ultrasound Med Biol. 2020 Jan;46(1):73-89. doi: 10.1016/j.ultrasmedbio.2019.09.010. Epub 2019 Oct 25
Vibro-Acoustography Imaging in Diagnosing Breast Masses in Women With a Breast Mass or Breast Cancer
https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT00627614?term=azra+alizad&draw=2&rank=5
Kamimura HA, Urban MW, Carneiro AA, Fatemi M, Alizad A. Vibro-acoustography beam formation with reconfigurable arrays. IEEE Trans Ultrason Ferroelectr Freq Control. 2012 Jul;59(7):1421-31. doi: 10.1109/TUFFC.2012.2343.
Grants
Grants
Google X, USA. Research Grant. (P.I.: E. Konofagou). Role: Co-investigator.
Focused Ultrasound Foundation, USA. Research Grant. (P.I.: E. Konofagou). https://www.fusfoundation.org/the-technology/research-sites/research-projects/a0J3j00001JMmhkEAD. Role: Co-investigator.
Ministry of Science, Technology, Innovation, and Communication (MCTI/SETEC/CNPq), Brazil. Research Grant. 459467/2013-1 (P.I.: Almeida, T. W. J.): Multiplatform system for ultrasound telemedicine (BRA R$ 396K; 05/10/2014 - 04/30/2017). Role: Helped write the grant and participated as a researcher.
São Paulo Research Foundation, Brazil. Research Grant: Innovative Research in Small Business: 15/08557-0 (P.I.: Siqueira, R.): Portable device for the test of ultrasonic transducers acoustic pressure (BRA R$ 158K; 02/12/2016 - 10/31/2016, http://www.fapesp.br/9806). Role: Wrote grant as P.I., but transferred the project to Siqueira, R. to start postdoctoral research at CEA.
The French National Research Agency (ANR), France. Research Grant: CE19 Technologies for Health (P.I. Larrat, B.), Development and validation of a clinical device for blood-brain barrier opening with transcranial focused ultrasound. (EUR$ 600K; Date of acceptance: 07/13/2017; Dur.: 36 months). Role: Helped write the grant proposal and participate as a researcher.
EU Research and Innovation program, FP7 Marie Skłodowska-Curie COFUND Program, France. Research Grant: Enhanced Eurotalents (P.I.: Hantraye, P., awardee: Sanches, S. C.), Development and characterization of intracerebral gene transfer in non-human primate using magnetic resonance-guided focused ultrasound-induced blood-brain barrier opening for disease modeling and therapeutic intervention in neurodegenerative diseases. (Date of approval: 07/21/2017; Dur.: 15 months). Role: Helped write the fellowship proposal for a postdoctoral fellow to replace me at Mircen.
Associate Editor
Associate Editor
Medical Physics
https://aapm.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/24734209
Frontiers in Physics - Magnetic Resonance Guided Focused Ultrasound: Physical Principles and Biomedical Applications
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