M. Ayache Bouakaz

2, Boulevard Tonnellé 37044 TOURS CEDEX 9

Email

ayache.bouakaz@univ-tours.fr

Biomedical ultrasound physics and technology; ultrasound imaging; ultrasound contrast agents and microbubbles; acoustic cavitation; therapeutic ultrasound; ultrasound-mediated drug delivery; blood–brain barrier opening; ultrasound neuromodulation; ultrasound instrumentation and signal processing; research methodology; and preclinical and clinical translation.

Development of innovative ultrasound imaging and therapeutic approaches, with particular emphasis on:

• ultrasound–microbubble–tissue interactions;
• contrast-enhanced ultrasound and functional ultrasound imaging;
• ultrasound- and microbubble-mediated targeted drug delivery;
• acoustic cavitation and monitoring of therapeutic bioeffects;
• controlled opening of the blood–brain barrier;
• non-invasive ultrasound neuromodulation;
• therapeutic ultrasound applications in oncology and neuroscience;
• design of ultrasound transducers, transmission sequences and therapeutic systems;
• acoustic propagation modelling and optimisation of transcranial focusing;
• preclinical validation, safety assessment and translation towards clinical trials.

Ayache Bouakaz is an Inserm Research Director and Head of the TechMed Team, “Morpho-functional Imaging and Therapeutic Ultrasound”, within UMR 1253 iBraiN, Inserm – Université de Tours.

His research focuses on the development of innovative ultrasound imaging and therapeutic technologies. His main areas of expertise include contrast-enhanced ultrasound imaging, ultrasound–microbubble interactions, ultrasound-mediated drug delivery, blood–brain barrier opening, ultrasound neuromodulation, and the development of ultrasound devices for preclinical and clinical applications.

His work combines ultrasound physics, instrumentation, numerical modelling, signal processing, preclinical experimentation and clinical translation. A major objective is to understand and control the mechanical effects generated by ultrasound and microbubbles in order to improve imaging, vascular and cellular permeabilisation, targeted drug delivery and non-invasive brain stimulation.

He has authored or co-authored more than 260 peer-reviewed scientific publications, is co-inventor of nine patents, has delivered more than 110 invited international lectures, and has supervised 14 PhD students.

He has held several international scientific leadership positions within the IEEE Ultrasonics, Ferroelectrics and Frequency Control Society. He previously served as Vice-President for Symposia and as an IEEE UFFC Distinguished Lecturer. He is an elected member of the IEEE UFFC-S Administrative Committee and of the Board of the International Society for Therapeutic Ultrasound.

His current research activities focus particularly on therapeutic ultrasound, microbubble-assisted drug delivery, oncological applications, blood–brain barrier opening and ultrasound neuromodulation.

Directeur de recherche