Governor Ron DeSantis today announced that innovative health care company Insightec will be expanding the Florida Brain State Program and providing access to a state-of-the-art brain technology already placed across Florida hospitals and universities for next generation cancer treatments in their breakthrough research trials. Insightec utilizes ultrasound waves to disrupt the blood-brain barrier, which is being researched to allow drugs used to treat brain tumors to pass through and reach their target at a more effective volume. The technology also allows biopsies to be taken more easily and non-invasively compared to traditional methods. This announcement is a part of First Lady Casey DeSantis’ Cancer Connect Collaborative Initiative, which aims to break down barriers to bring new innovative cancer treatments and research to Florida.
“I am so proud of my wife, Casey, who has spearheaded new cancer initiatives in our state,” said Governor Ron DeSantis. “I first met with Insightec in Israel in 2019, when we were able to partner with them on Alzheimer’s treatment. It is great to see great companies doing great work all over the world, and we absolutely want to have them in Florida.”
“The Governor and First Lady understand how to bring together the innovation engine of private industry, in collaboration with the intellect of academia and the clinical excellence of the health care sector to accelerate new discoveries that will ultimately help millions of people in Florida, across our nation and around the world,” said Jonathan Weiss, Insightec Vice President of Strategic Innovation.
Governor DeSantis also announced that Florida Atlantic University is signing a Memorandum of Understanding with Insightec to explore novel therapies that benefit brain health and accelerate treatment for neurological diseases, including Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease. This MOU is in addition to the partnership Insightec has built with a consortium of Florida universities to further research opportunities on neurological diseases.
Insightec is an Israeli company that has partnered with a consortium of Florida universities to use their innovative technologies to study Alzheimer’s disease. The partnership with Florida was first announced in 2019 following Governor DeSantis’ trip to Israel. Since then, Insightec has placed their technology in five Florida hospitals in collaboration with four Florida universities to advance the research capabilities of these institutions for Alzheimer’s research.
These partners include Florida International University and Baptist Health South Florida, University of Florida and Broward Health, Florida Atlantic University and Delray Medical Center, University of South Florida and Tampa General Hospital and University of Florida and UF Health Shands Hospital.
