# Smart Multi-grid Template for Focal Therapy of Prostate Cancer

> **NIH NIH R43** · PHYSICAL SCIENCES, INC · 2021 · $263,009

## Abstract

Project Summary/Abstract
Physical Sciences Inc. (PSI), in collaboration with the Department of Radiology at Brigham and Women's
Hospital (BWH), proposes to develop an automated Smart Multi-grid-guidance Template (SMT) technology
that will enable magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-guided transperineal focal therapy improvement of prostate
cancer (PCa). Focal therapy that targets localized PCa lesions is a growing therapeutic option for PCa patients
with unifocal, low- and intermediate-risk cancer. Various energy therapy modalities, such as cryoablation,
laser ablation, radiofrequency ablation, high-intensity focused ultrasound, have been clinically investigated
with regards to improving post-treatment preservation of sexual and urinary function while focally treating
PCa. Although these PCa focal therapy modalities have widely been utilized in conjunction with the imaging-
guided approaches for precise localization of PCa lesions, accurate placement of the therapy needles within
the PCa lesions remains a major challenging problem in improving the PCa therapy success rate. Therefore,
there is a clinical need for a technology that can provide highly accurate placement of multiple therapy
needles onto the targeted PCa lesions during focal therapy. During Phase I, PSI/BWH team will focus on the
validation of the potential impact of the SMT system on focal cryoablation therapy. A preclinical prototype of
the SMT system will be developed, optimized on a prostate phantom, and then its accuracy for needle
placement will be tested ex vivo on excised animal prostate glands. Additionally, its capability to provide real-
time needle monitoring and accurate placement of multiple therapy needles will be evaluated in vivo on a
large animal model during MRI-guided focal cryoablation procedures. Based on the Phase I results and
conclusions, a robust SMT system with improved performance for clinical use in various focal therapy
modalities will be proposed to be developed and validated on human patients in Phase II.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10382006
- **Project number:** 1R43EB032676-01
- **Recipient organization:** PHYSICAL SCIENCES, INC
- **Principal Investigator:** Jesung Park
- **Activity code:** R43 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $263,009
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2021-09-23 → 2023-09-22

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10382006

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10382006, Smart Multi-grid Template for Focal Therapy of Prostate Cancer (1R43EB032676-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10382006. Licensed CC0.

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