Sonobiopsies generate genetic, molecular data to inform treatment decisions for brain diseases
Noninvasive, ultrasound-based brain biopsy is feasible, safe in people

Sonobiopsies generate genetic, molecular data to inform treatment decisions for brain diseases
Scopus list of publications for August 27, 2023
Hong Chen, PhD, associate professor of biomedical engineering and radiation oncology at Washington University in St. Louis, is dedicated to what may seem like the impossible. “This constant puzzle of what’s happening in my brain.” Chen is referring to all human brains that share this complexity. And getting answers to serious problems can be very […]
Researchers have developed methods to study and manipulate areas of the brain, though many of those methods are restricted by the limited depth that light can reach within the brain. A multidisciplinary team at Washington University in St. Louis plans to overcome that limitation by integrating ultrasound with genetics to precisely modify neurons in the […]
Scopus list of publications for June 4, 2023
Scopus list of publications for May 28, 2023
Some mammals and birds have a clever way to preserve energy and heat by going into torpor, during which their body temperature and metabolic rate drop to allow them to survive potentially fatal conditions in the environment, such as extreme cold or lack of food. While a similar condition was proposed for scientists making flights […]
Like the lymphatic system in the body, the glymphatic system in the brain clears metabolic waste and distributes nutrients and other important compounds. Impairments in this system may contribute to brain diseases, such as neurodegenerative diseases and stroke. A team of researchers in the McKelvey School of Engineering at Washington University in St. Louis has […]
Scopus list of publications for March 5, 2023
Research could facilitate diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease
Scopus list of publications for December 12, 2022
List of publications for October 22, 2022
Hong Chen’s lab develops noninvasive focused ultrasound intranasal delivery method
List of publications for October 3, 2022
Hong Chen’s lab develops technique to generate Airy beams for ultrasound focusing
A submarine can inadvertently reveal its location because of cavitation, a condition that creates bubbles underwater that burst, then emit sound waves that can be detected by sonar. A team of biomedical engineers at Washington University in St. Louis plans to use the same concept to detect cavitation in human brains that may contribute to […]
List of publications for May 22, 2022
List of publications for week of February 28, 2022
Hong Chen’s lab created an $80 device that is accurate and easy to use
List of publications for the week of January 6, 2022
List of publications for the week of December 17, 2021
A research powerhouse becomes an innovation incubator
Hong Chen and Eric Leuthardt’s sonobiopsy method uses blood test instead of surgery
Hong Chen, medical school faculty to collaborate on NIH-funded work
List of publications for the week of September 6, 2021
Finding prompts researchers, clinicians to consider impact in future research, clinical treatment of brain diseases
List of publications for the week of July 12, 2021
List of publications for the week of June 7, 2021
It is the first work to show that sonothermogenetics can control behavior by stimulating a specific target deep in the brain
Neurosurgeon and scientist Albert H. Kim appointed director
Dezhuang Ye in Hong Chen’s lab tests novel method in brain tumor model
List of publications for the week of March 8, 2021