An ageing population is often accompanied by an increase in age‑related disorders such as Parkinson's disease, an incurable neurodegenerative disorder that impairs body movement and which is mainly alleviated by medicines or surgical procedures. A research team at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) has developed the next‑generation "All‑Acoustics Brain‑Computer Interface (BCI) System", leveraging "transcranial ultrasound neuromodulation" to deliver fully non‑invasive, deep‑brain and high‑precision neural modulation with ultrasound. The system presents a promising new therapeutic approach for treating Parkinson's disease, as well as other neurological and psychiatric disorders. The team has begun clinical research in collaboration with Huashan Hospital in Shanghai and Zhujiang Hospital of Southern Medical University.
Developed by Prof. SUN Lei, Director of the Research Centre for Non-invasive Brain Computer Interface and Professor of the Department of Biomedical Engineering at PolyU, Prof. QIU Zhihai, a PhD graduate of the same department, and their research team, the system harnesses the physical properties of ultrasound to penetrate the skull and precisely target deep brain regions. Featuring a transcranial sparse ultrasound array comprising more than 128 individual transducer elements, it is paired with a custom driving system capable of independently controlling each channel for precise manipulation of the acoustic field. Through advanced dynamic focusing and beam steering techniques, the system achieves spatial resolution finer than 4 mm, enabling highly targeted modulation of deep brain regions to alleviate Parkinsonian symptoms.
Prof. Sun explained that each of the two existing BCI technologies has its own constraints. Invasive approaches require craniotomy to implant electrodes into the brain, posing higher risks and irreversible consequences; while traditional non-invasive techniques, such as electrical stimulation, are limited by inadequate spatiotemporal resolution or insufficient penetration depth, making it difficult to precisely modulate deep brain regions. "Our BCI system can communicate with the brain to modulate its functions. With our PolyU-developed helmet-shaped gear, we can modulate brain cells by utilising ultrasound to achieve non‑invasive treatment for relieving Parkinsonian symptoms," he elucidated.
Building on ultrasound neuromodulation, the team has further developed sonogenetics technology to significantly enhance precision. "Different types of cells in the brain are intermingled, making it challenging to selectively modulate a specific cell type. Our sonogenetics technology can precisely identify and modulate targeted cell types—it is currently the only technique of its kind to be successfully validated by multiple independent laboratories, demonstrating its scientific significance," Prof. Sun noted.
Prof. Christopher CHAO, Senior Vice President (Research and Innovation) of PolyU, said, "The draft outline of the Nation's 15th Five-Year Plan has identified brain-computer interfaces as one of the fresh growth drivers for the economy. Committed to supporting the Nation's strategic development, PolyU has developed the All-Acoustics BCI System, representing a significant breakthrough in the field of biomedical engineering. Leveraging the University's robust network in the Chinese Mainland, the research team has collaborated with leading hospitals to translate PolyU's impactful research into applications, contributing to medical technology innovation and the wellbeing of our Nation."
The team has validated the technology's efficacy through animal studies. "The mice with Parkinson's disease exhibited significant improvement in motor function after receiving ultrasound modulation. Although Parkinson's disease is primarily caused by excessive loss of certain brain cells during ageing, a process that is irreversible, we can significantly improve the symptoms by modulating the function of existing cells through ultrasound," Prof. Sun added.
In the next stage, Prof. Sun will expand the scale of clinical validation. He plans to collaborate with five leading medical centres to conduct a clinical study involving 100 Parkinson's disease patients and systematically assess the ultrasound technique's safety and efficacy, paving the way for regulatory approval and commercialisation. Looking ahead, the team also aims to partner with Hong Kong hospitals for clinical study and develop a more portable household version of the system, enabling patients to receive continuous treatment at home.
In addition to Parkinson's disease, the team is testing transcranial ultrasound neuromodulation for treating depression, weight control and sleep regulation. Devoted to the study of sonogenetics for a decade, Prof. Sun's team has achieved remarkable results, filing more than ten patents for various technical approaches while receiving total research funding of over HK$76 million from the Innovation and Technology Fund, the National Natural Science Foundation of China and other sources. Prof. Sun has also been named a Senior Research Fellow in 2025/26 by the Research Grants Council for his research in sonogenetics.
The team's research findings have been published in leading international journals, including Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Nature Communications and Cell Reports.
