Breakthrough Australian device to treat Alzheimer's receives Federal Government funding
Brisbane-based company Ceretas has been awarded a $2.4 million grant to fast-track development of its next-generation therapeutic ultrasound device - an Australian-designed innovation aiming to transform the treatment of Alzheimer's disease.
The competitive grant was awarded through the CUREator+ Dementia & Cognitive Decline program, part of the Australian Government's Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF) BioMedTech Incubator initiative. This funding will help Ceretas tackle one of the most urgent and complex challenges in global healthcare: cognitive decline in Alzheimer's disease.
The grant will directly support the development of Ceretas' next-generation device to improve memory and cognition in Alzheimer's patients - providing a new treatment avenue for neurodegenerative diseases and offering new hope for millions of patients and families affected worldwide.
"This is a significant endorsement of both our technology and our team," said Dr Rachel de las Heras, CEO of Ceretas. "With this support, we can accelerate the development of a world-first Australian solution that has the potential to improve cognition and quality of life for millions of people globally."
Giving the Brain a Second Chance—Without Invasive Treatment
The Ceretas device is built around a powerful concept: using focused ultrasound to non-invasively stimulate targeted regions of the brain. This process, known as neuromodulation, is designed to enhance connectivity and restore function in circuits affected by neurodegenerative disease. Ceretas acquired an exclusive licence to the ultrasound technology in 2024 from The University of Queensland's commercialisation company UniQuest, following approximately $20 million invested in research development over the past decade at the Queensland Brain Institute.
Unlike traditional neuromodulation, which often requires surgery or only reaches surface-level brain areas, Ceretas' non-invasive technology is designed to precisely target deeper regions linked to memory and cognition—without implants or recovery time.
"This is about unlocking the brain's ability to repair and regulate itself," said Dr de las Heras. "We're building a safe, scalable device that could become a frontline treatment option for Alzheimer's and other neurological disorders."
The device is also intended to safely and temporarily open the blood-brain barrier —a major obstacle in brain treatment—helping clear toxic protein build-up of amyloid plaques and tau tangles, as well as potentially improving delivery of therapies that typically can't reach the brain.
About us:
Ceretas is developing a non-invasive, safe and portable therapeutic ultrasound platform to treat diseases of the brain. Our platform is designed to restore devastating neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease. We aim to unlock targeted drug delivery to the brain, reduce the burden of dementia and address other neurological conditions including depression and addiction. ceretas.com.au
