Vattikuti Foundation’s NeuroNext Forum Empowers Patients Through Awareness on Emerging Treatment Options for Movement Disorders
“For years, I believed my tremors were something I simply had to live with. I never knew that advanced treatment options even existed. Today, after hearing doctors explain the possibilities and meeting patients who have undergone treatment, I am leaving with hope, which I never had before.”
This heartfelt reaction from a participant at the Vattikuti Foundation’s NeuroNext Forum reflects a reality faced by many people living with movement disorders, who often remain unaware of evolving treatment options and lack access to credible medical guidance. Anchored around this year’s theme, “Restoring Life Through Focused Ultrasound,” the Vattikuti Foundation successfully concluded the latest NeuroNext Forum series, a nationwide patient awareness initiative that brought together more than 400 patients, caregivers and family members across Ahmedabad, Chennai, Delhi and Chandigarh. Through direct interactions with leading neurologists and neurosurgeons, attendees gained a better understanding of Parkinson’s Disease, Essential Tremor and emerging treatment pathways, enabling them to make more informed decisions about their care.
The Forum featured some of India’s leading neurological specialists, including Dr. Sudhir V. Shah, Head of the Department of Neurology at Smt. NHL Municipal Medical College, Ahmedabad; Dr. K. Vijayan, Consultant Neurologist and Neurosonologist at Royal Care Super Speciality Hospital, Coimbatore; Dr. Aniruddha Bhagwat, Consultant Functional Neurosurgeon at Deenanath Mangeshkar Hospital and Research Center; Dr. Manas Kumar Panigrahi, Head of Department and Senior Consultant Neurosurgeon at KIMS Hospital, Hyderabad; Dr. Anshu Rohatgi, Senior Consultant and Co-Chairperson, Department of Neurology at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, New Delhi; and Dr. Atif Shaikh, Professor, Department of Neurological Sciences at Christian Medical College, Vellore, along with several other experts. Across the four cities, the NeuroNext Forum also witnessed participation from more than 125 healthcare professionals (HCPs), fostering meaningful interactions between clinicians, patients and caregivers.
A key focus of the discussions was Magnetic Resonance-guided Focused Ultrasound (MRgFUS), a non-invasive, incisionless treatment option for select patients with movement disorders. The sessions helped participants understand the science behind the technology, patient eligibility, expected outcomes and the importance of timely consultation with specialists. Experts also highlighted the role of physiotherapy, regular exercise, rehabilitation and lifestyle modifications in improving long-term quality of life.
As awareness around MRgFUS continues to grow, the treatment is now available at four centres across India. These include Royal Care Super Speciality Hospital, Coimbatore, which introduced the technology in 2022 and has since successfully treated more than 300 patients; Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, New Delhi, where the programme commenced in 2025 in technical collaboration with the MRgFUS team at Royal Care and has completed more than 25 procedures; KIMS Hospital, Hyderabad, which has performed over 55 successful treatments since launching the service in 2025; and the Centre for Excellence in Neurotechnology at Christian Medical College (CMC), Vellore, established in collaboration with the Vattikuti Foundation in 2026, offering advanced incision-free treatment for patients with complex movement disorders.
Speaking on the significance of the initiative, Mr. Abhi Vattikuti, Vice President, Vattikuti Foundation, said, “Knowledge empowers patients to make better decisions, and every patient deserves access to trusted, evidence-based information about their healthcare options. Through the NeuroNext Forum, our goal has been to bridge the gap between medical expertise and the people who need it most by creating opportunities for patients and caregivers to engage directly with leading specialists, ask questions openly and better understand their treatment journey. The response we have witnessed across cities reinforces the need for continued education, and we remain committed to expanding these conversations so that more families feel informed, supported and hopeful about the future.”
With the successful conclusion of the Forum across Ahmedabad, Chennai, Delhi and Chandigarh, the Vattikuti Foundation has now completed seven editions of the NeuroNext Forum across India, following earlier sessions in Kolkata, Mumbai and Bengaluru. Collectively, the initiative has reached nearly 1,000 patients and caregivers, reflecting the Foundation’s continued commitment to making reliable medical knowledge more accessible and enabling individuals to make informed decisions about their neurological health.
Building on this momentum, the Vattikuti Foundation will continue to expand patient awareness initiatives that promote early intervention, informed decision-making and greater understanding of advancements in neurological care. Alongside supporting centres of excellence and advancing access to innovative technologies such as MRgFUS, the Foundation remains committed to improving patient outcomes by bringing together clinical expertise, education and innovation for communities across India.
