Dr. José Obeso, PhD, of the Centro Integral de Neurociencias (HM CINAC) in Madrid recently led a clinical trial that used focused ultrasound to temporarily and reversibly open the blood-brain barrier in the putamen region of the striatum of Parkinson's patients. Thus far, he and his team have treated seven patients.

Meanwhile, Dr. Nir Lipsman, PhD, is co-leading a team of researchers at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre and University Health Network in Toronto who are using focused ultrasound to deliver a therapeutic dose directly to the striatum in patients with Parkinson's. Ultrasound waves temporarily open the blood-brain barrier, which allows access to the striatum and the direct delivery of an enzyme replacement therapy (glucocerebrosidase). To date, three patients have been treated in the trial.