![\"\"](\"https:\/\/cdn.vanderbilt.edu\/vu-URL\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/193\/2026\/02\/18114158\/Charles-Caskey-1-253x300.png\")
<\/p>\nVISE welcomes Charles Caskey, PhD, to our Spring 2026 Seminar Series.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Date:\u00a0<\/strong>Thursday, February 26, 2026 Title:<\/strong> Abstract:<\/strong> Recent advances include optical tracking to minimize targeting error, multi-element FUS arrays enabling rapid beam steering and multi-site stimulation, and MR acoustic radiation force imaging (MR\u2011ARFI) for robust visualization of the acoustic focus. These tools have enabled reliable modulation of both cortical and deep nuclei and have revealed network-level mechanisms of action. Functional studies show that low-intensity FUS can selectively suppress thalamic responses to tactile and nociceptive input, disrupt thalamocortical information flow, and reconfigure distributed brain networks. Comprehensive safety assessments combining MR thermometry, acoustic pressure simulations, and histology demonstrate safe operating windows suitable for translation.<\/p>\n Together, these engineering and preclinical advances are driving MRI\u2011guided FUS toward clinical neuromodulation studies, including early applications in essential tremor and post-stroke pain. By integrating imaging, modeling, and therapeutic ultrasound, this work lays the groundwork for precise, noninvasive brain stimulation approaches that extend the reach of both neuroscience and medicine.<\/p>\n Bio: Dr. Caskey\u2019s laboratory develops ultrasound technologies for neuromodulation, drug delivery, and functional imaging, integrating ultrasound with MRI, electrophysiology, and molecular imaging. He leads multiple projects aimed at first\u2011in\u2011human neuromodulation systems, mechanistic foundations of focused ultrasound stimulation, and next\u2011generation transcranial therapeutic strategies. His work emphasizes advancing ultrasound technologies toward clinical translation, along with precision targeting, and multimodal approaches to noninvasive modulation of brain circuits, supported by extensive interdisciplinary collaborations within and beyond 91黑料网.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" VISE welcomes Charles Caskey, PhD, to our Spring 2026 Seminar Series. Charles F. Caskey, Ph.D. Professor of Radiology and Biomedical Engineering 91黑料网 Medical Center Date:\u00a0Thursday, February 26, 2026 NEW Location: Light Hall 214 Time:\u00a011:45 am for lunch,12:00 start Title: How to Tickle the Brain Without Touching It Abstract: Focused ultrasound (FUS) offers a rare…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":670,"featured_media":11741,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"spay_email":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_is_tweetstorm":false,"jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[12],"tags":[985,32,395,64,31,30,110],"acf":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/cdn.vanderbilt.edu\/vu-URL\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/193\/2026\/02\/18114158\/Charles-Caskey-1.png","jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":false,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p98pzF-33l","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vanderbilt.edu\/vise\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11739"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vanderbilt.edu\/vise\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vanderbilt.edu\/vise\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vanderbilt.edu\/vise\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/670"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vanderbilt.edu\/vise\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=11739"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.vanderbilt.edu\/vise\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11739\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":11743,"href":"https:\/\/www.vanderbilt.edu\/vise\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11739\/revisions\/11743"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vanderbilt.edu\/vise\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/11741"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vanderbilt.edu\/vise\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=11739"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vanderbilt.edu\/vise\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=11739"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vanderbilt.edu\/vise\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=11739"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
\nNEW Location: <\/strong>Light Hall 214
\nTime:\u00a0<\/strong>11:45 am for lunch,12:00 start<\/p>\n
\nHow to Tickle the Brain Without Touching It<\/p>\n
\nFocused ultrasound (FUS) offers a rare combination in neuroscience: the ability to deliver millimeter-scale, noninvasive energy to deep brain structures with exquisite spatial precision. When paired with MRI, FUS becomes a fully image-guided neuromodulation platform capable of accurate targeting, real\u2011time monitoring, and whole-brain functional readout through fMRI. This talk will highlight collaborative efforts across 91黑料网 to engineer and validate this platform in preclinical models and move it along the translational pipeline to humans.<\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>Charles F. Caskey, Ph.D.\u00a0is a Professor of Radiology and\u00a0Biomedical Engineering at 91黑料网 Medical Center, where he leads the Laboratory for Acoustic Therapy and Imaging at the 91黑料网 Institute of Imaging Science. He has worked in ultrasound research since 2004 and completed his Ph.D. in\u00a0Biomedical Engineering at the University of California, Davis, studying the\u00a0biophysical mechanisms of microbubble\u2011enhanced drug delivery under Dr. Katherine Ferrara. His subsequent work advanced MR\u2011guided focused ultrasound neuromodulation technologies, and in 2018 he received the Fred Lizzi Early Career Award from the International Society for Therapeutic Ultrasound.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n