University of Michigan Opened Histotripsy Center
The $10 million research facility will advance ultrasound-based cancer treatments.
Updated on Sept. 22, 2026 in Cancer
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The University of Michigan has launched a $10 million Histotripsy Center within the Carl A. Gerstacker Building on its North Campus. This new facility will provide research space and access to technology for testing ultrasound-based tumor destruction.
Why it matters
The center aims to accelerate research into new applications for histotripsy, including treatments for brain cancer and sarcomas. It bridges academic innovation with external study to further expand the technology's reach beyond its current FDA-approved use for liver tumors.
The new center cost $10 million to establish and operates as a research hub rather than a clinical provider. Globally, histotripsy technology has already been used to treat over 1,000 patients for various conditions.
The players
University of Michigan
A public research university in Ann Arbor that serves as the home institution for the new medical technology facility.
HistoSonics
A startup company founded in 2009 that spun out of the university to commercialize histotripsy technology.
The details
Located in the Carl A. Gerstacker Building, the center facilitates cell culturing and histotripsy testing while shipping technology to partner laboratories. The facility will also support educational initiatives including graduate programs, post-doc research, and internships at the startup HistoSonics.
Timeline
The histotripsy method was developed at the University of Michigan in the early 2000s.
The startup company HistoSonics was founded in 2009.
The FDA approved histotripsy for liver tumor treatment in 2023.
The new Histotripsy Center officially opened in September 2026.
Deeper Dive
The establishment of this center follows the 2023 FDA approval of histotripsy for liver tumors. This facility marks a transition from initial clinical validation toward a broader research paradigm aimed at proving efficacy for more complex cancers.
While the center does not provide clinical care, its research efforts directly influence future treatment options for patients with brain cancer and sarcomas. The facility's work is expected to eventually expand access to non-invasive ultrasound therapies in clinical settings.
The takeaway
Histotripsy represents a shift toward non-invasive oncology that replaces traditional surgical tumor removal with focused ultrasound waves. This center serves as a critical bridge to ensure that laboratory-proven technologies eventually become viable clinical standard-of-care options.
Further reading
For more information on the evolving landscape of oncological research, visit the Cancer section.
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