Physical sciences

Executive Assistant: Mari Bahashwan
Phone: 416-480-6100 ext. 67204
Email: mari.bahashwan@sri.utoronto.ca

Administrative Assistant: Lorelie Lacson
Phone: 416-480-6100 ext. 64293
Email: Lorelie.Lacson@sunnybrook.ca

Education:

• B.Sc., 1976, physics, University of Kuopio, Finland
• M.Sc., 1977, physics, University of Kuopio, Finland
• PhD, 1982, biomedical physics and biomedical engineering, University of Aberdeen, UK

Appointments and Affiliations:

• Vice-president, research and innovation, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre
• Vice-president, research and innovation, Sunnybrook Research Institute
• Senior scientist, Physical Sciences, Odette Cancer Research Program, Sunnybrook Research Institute
• Professor, department of medical biophysics, University of Toronto
• Canada Research Chair in Imaging Systems and Image-Guided Therapy, Tier 1

Research Foci:

• Focused ultrasound for noninvasive surgery
• Vascular surgery
• Targeted drug delivery and gene therapy
• Ultrasound imaging and monitoring
• MRI thermometry

Research Summary:

Dr. Hynynen's research has focused on studying the effects of ultrasound beams on tissue and their utilization in therapy. He is investigating the use of focused ultrasound for noninvasive surgery, vascular surgery, targeted drug delivery and gene therapy. He has developed theoretical models to help understand treatment parameters and to allow optimization of treatment devices. He has conducted in vivo experiments to investigate the various biological end points that can be induced by controlling the sonication parameters.

His research on ultrasound transducers has been used to design and develop new phased array applicators and better ways to deliver therapy. He is also looking at the use of magnetic resonance imaging to detect and quantify noninvasive ultrasound exposure in vivo. He has developed several systems that are being tested clinically. Dr. Hynynen is currently exploring new ways to utilize ultrasound for imaging with the aim of using the methods for controlling delivery of therapy and aid in tumour diagnosis.

Selected Publications:

See current publications list at PubMed.

Related News and Stories:

• World-first study highlights potential of focused ultrasound in the detection of brain cancer biomarkers through liquid biopsy: Canada Foundation for Innovation invests in image-guided therapeutics research (March 18, 2021)
• Sunnybrook will be home to Toronto’s first 7-Tesla MRI: $13.9 million grant from the Canada Foundation for Innovation will bring a powerful new MRI scanner to SRI and scientists across Toronto (March 8, 2021)
• Short pulses of focused ultrasound can help release cancer drugs on target: Breakthrough pre-clinical study published in Science Advances (Sept. 3, 2020)
• Study: New 'echo-focusing' approach for focused ultrasound is feasible, safe, and more efficient: New approach may enable more patients with essential tremor to benefit from cutting-edge therapy (Aug. 25, 2020)
• Focused ultrasound successful in phase one of world-first trial to treat ALS: study: Researchers show the technique opens the blood-brain barrier safely and temporarily (Oct. 31, 2019)
• Focused ultrasound seeks to transform treatment of brain diseases: Noninvasive method uses imaging and beams rather than scalpels (Jan. 3, 2019)
• Researchers target tough-to-treat brain diseases with focused ultrasound: Noninvasive imaging technique makes major gains in studies (SRI Magazine, 2018)
• A fitting distinction: physicist named a Fellow of the IEEE (Feb. 6, 2018)
• The road less travelled: experts forge path in study of focused ultrasound to treat psychiatric illness (Nov. 29, 2017)
• Pioneering science rewarded: Canada Foundation for Innovation invests in image-guided therapeutics research (Oct. 12, 2017)
• Firm foundation: Researchers make it through intense review process to secure stable funding (Aug. 11, 2017)
• Expanding focused ultrasound's therapeutic reach: pioneer of disruptive technology gets funds to pursue new directions (July 27, 2017)
• Launched: first clinical trial of focused ultrasound for Alzheimer's (SRI Magazine, 2017)
• Technologies developed in-house approved for clinical use (SRI Magazine, 2017)
• Of sight and sound: Physicist heralded a "visionary" for pioneering work in ultrasound (Sept. 6, 2016)
• CIHR responds to revolt while releasing results: peer rebellion brings promise of change to granting agency (July 18, 2016)
• Breaching the blood-brain barrier noninvasively: an historic first (SRI Magazine, 2016)
• Sunnybrook Research Institute presents biomedical engineering student with prestigious prize: Undergraduates compete for a chance to win cash award (Jan. 11, 2016)
• Sunnybrook doctor first to perform blood-brain barrier procedure using focused ultrasound waves (The Globe and Mail, Nov. 8, 2015)
• World first: blood-brain barrier opened non-invasively to deliver chemotherapy: Breaching this barrier opens up a new frontier in treating brain disorders (Nov. 8, 2015)
• National agency recognizes scientific excellence at Sunnybrook Research Institute: Scientists score high with multimillion-dollar funding investment (Oct. 13, 2015)
  Poster competition turns on the heat: Summer students showcase diverse research projects (Aug. 26, 2015)
• Making waves: Physicist crowned with prestigious award in ultrasound (Nov. 7, 2014)
• Breaching barriers: A look at the promise of focused ultrasound to outsmart the brain's natural defenses and smuggle therapies into deep-brain territory to treat intractable disorders of the central nervous system (SRI Magazine, 2013)
• Field of view: Research day proclaims promise of image-guided medicine (Jan. 15, 2014)
• Mentoring: a gratifying experience for all involved (Sept. 26, 2013)
• Eyes on the prize: National student competition recognizes excellence in biomedical research (Jan. 4, 2013)
• Open: the Centre for Research in Image-Guided Therapeutics (Nov. 2, 2012)
• Imaging physicist lands renewal of Canada Research Chair (Oct. 12, 2012)
• Canada's got (science) talent: Researchers launch prize-winning strategy to attract students to medical research (SRI Magazine, 2011)
• In focus: Image-guided sound waves will change medicine; here's how (SRI Magazine, 2010)
• A centre is born: Canada Foundation for Innovation invests $74.6 in Centre for Research in Image-Guided Therapeutics (Aug. 20, 2008)
• $23 million awarded for health research (Feb. 7, 2008)
• The penny drops: Sunnybrook Research Institute scientists give Canadian Cancer Society leaders a glimpse of where the money goes (April 4, 2007)
• Translation in collaboration - Sunnybrook plans a novel breast cancer treatment (Sunnybrook Research Institute Research Report, 2004–2006)
• Getting results: Success is a method in Kullervo Hynynen's lab (Sunnybrook Research Institute Research Report, 2004–2006)
• Sound focus: Ultrasound redefines surgery and drug-therapy limits (Sunnybrook Research Institute Research Report, 2004–2006)
• Imaging success: Sunnybrook drives ImNO symposium to new heights: Scientists, students and industry gather at increasingly popular annual event (May 18, 2006)
• Sunnybrook lures distinguished harvard physicist: Ultrasound pioneer will head renowned team of imaging scientists (May 11, 2006)

Related Links:

• Centre for Research in Image-Guided Therapeutics
• Focused Ultrasound Lab
• SRI Centre of Excellence in Focused Ultrasound
• U of T profile, department of medical biophysics