Scientists here in Toronto have conducted ground breaking research in chemotherapy by developing a non-invasive procedure to treat brain tumours.

Researchers at Sunnybrook Hospital have used a “focused ultrasound” to breach the blood barrier in the brain to treat patients.

Principal investigator Dr. Todd Mainprize says it’s encouraging that they’ve been able to temporarily open this barrier in a patient to deliver chemotherapy directly to the brain tumour.

The hospital said the patient had part of the tumour removed in surgery and tested the next day which confirmed the procedure’s success.

The hope is that the new treatment will help patients suffering from brain cancer, Parkinson’s disease and Alzheimer’s disease.