In 2023, Rosetrees funded an interdisciplinary award led by Professor Robin Cleveland (University of Oxford) to explore the potential of transcranial ultrasound for Parkinson’s disease and chronic pain.

The research team has now published their findings in Nature Communications, reporting early evidence that focused ultrasound may be able to modulate brain activity in Parkinson’s disease in a way that resembles the effects of deep brain stimulation (DBS), but without the need for implanted electrodes or surgery.

A non-invasive approach to deep brain stimulation

DBS is an established treatment for Parkinson’s disease, used when medication is no longer sufficient to control symptoms. However, it requires invasive brain surgery to implant electrodes deep within the brain.

In this proof-of-concept study, researchers explored whether focused ultrasound could provide a non-invasive alternative.

Using highly targeted ultrasound beams guided by computational modelling, the team stimulated deep brain regions involved in motor control. The stimulation was designed to replicate the rhythmic patterns typically used in DBS.

Early signs of meaningful brain and behavioural effects

Although the study was small, the findings are encouraging. The researchers observed changes in brain activity associated with movement control, alongside improvements in motor performance measures.

Importantly, these effects were observed in real time, suggesting a direct relationship between ultrasound stimulation and brain network activity.

Why this matters

While still at an early stage, this work provides some of the first human evidence that transcranial ultrasound could influence brain circuits involved in Parkinson’s disease in a therapeutically relevant way.

If developed further, this approach could eventually offer a non-invasive alternative to surgical brain stimulation—potentially reducing risk and expanding access to treatment.

Looking ahead

Much more research is needed before clinical application, including larger trials, optimisation of targeting methods, and long-term safety studies. However, these early results represent a significant step forward for the field of ultrasound neuromodulation.

At Rosetrees, our focus is on supporting translational research with a clear pathway to patient impact—helping promising ideas move from early-stage discovery toward meaningful clinical benefit.