Dr. Lea-Banks leads research initiatives to develop ultrasound-based solutions for non-invasive brain therapy and precise drug delivery. Working alongside scientists and clinicians, her team uses ultrasound to alter tissue structure and function, and to modulate neuronal activity.
Her current work in the design, fabrication and application of ultrasound-responsive nanoparticles, is emerging as a useful tool for targeted drug delivery in the brain. Using bubble activity to drive drug release allows therapy to be monitored and controlled in real time.
Education
- MEng, 2014, Acoustical Engineering, University of Southampton, UK
- DPhil, 2018, Biomedical Engineering, University of Oxford, UK
Appointments & Affiliations
- Junior Scientist, Physical Sciences Platform, Hurvitz Brain Sciences Program, Sunnybrook Research Institute
- Assistant Professor, Department of Medical Imaging, University of Toronto
Research Foci
- Nanoscale drug-carriers
- Non-invasive neuromodulation
- Therapeutic ultrasound
- Ultrasound-responsive agents
Affiliated Labs & Programs
Selected Publications
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Lea-Banks, H., Chauhan, N. and Hynynen, K., 2024. Investigating the hypotensive effect of focused ultrasound neuromodulation and barbiturate-loaded nanodroplets in healthy and hypertensive rats. Brain Stimulation, 17(6), 1317-1327.
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Gouveia, F.V., Lea‐Banks, H., Aubert, I., Lipsman, N., Hynynen, K. and Hamani, C., 2023. Anesthetic‐loaded nanodroplets with focused ultrasound reduces agitation in Alzheimer's mice. Annals of Clinical and Translational Neurology.
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Lea-Banks, H. and Hynynen, K., 2021. Sub-millimetre precision of drug delivery in the brain from ultrasound-triggered nanodroplets. Journal of Controlled Release, 338, pp.731-741.
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Lea-Banks, H., Meng, Y., Wu, S.K., Belhadjhamida, R., Hamani, C. and Hynynen, K., 2021. Ultrasound-sensitive nanodroplets achieve targeted neuromodulation. Journal of Controlled Release, 332, pp.30-39.
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Lea-Banks, H., O'Reilly, M.A., Hamani, C. and Hynynen, K., 2020. Localized anesthesia of a specific brain region using ultrasound-responsive barbiturate nanodroplets. Theranostics, 10(6), p.2849.