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About

Dr. R. King is a pioneering neurosurgeon and biomedical engineer whose research sits at the intersection of advanced robotics, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and minimally invasive neurosurgery. His primary focus is on developing novel, image-guided therapeutic platforms to treat devastating neurological conditions like epilepsy and brain tumors. King’s most significant contribution is the conceptualization and validation of interstitial MR-guided focused ultrasound (iMRgFUS), a groundbreaking ablation technique that offers a safer alternative to laser interstitial thermal therapy (LITT) by avoiding thermal tissue charring. His foundational 2018 study, "Robotic Assisted MRI-Guided Interventional Interstitial MR-Guided Focused Ultrasound Ablation in a Swine Model," which has garnered 22 citations, established the preclinical proof-of-concept for this technology. More recently, Dr. King has pushed the boundaries of pediatric neurosurgery, as evidenced by his 2025 work on robot-assisted intrathalamic infusion for gene therapy in young children. This study addresses the immense surgical challenges of delivering gene therapies to the developing brain, leveraging the thalamus’s role as a central hub for widespread axonal transport. By integrating robotic precision with real-time MRI guidance, King is not only refining ablation techniques but also opening new frontiers for gene therapy delivery in the most vulnerable patients.