Vanderbilt University's Free Electron Laser center recently made history when an infrared beam of light tuned precisely at 6.45 microns helped to remove a golf-ball sized tumor from a patient's brain. Researchers at Vanderbilt have conducted scientific experiments as part of the Office of Naval Research's Medical Free Electron Laser Program during the past decade. Many of these experiments explore the unique tunability and high power capability of the FEL to find the optimum conditions to make clean cuts in tissue. The operation is the first time a free electron laser has been used in a clinical operation. Ultimately, Vanderbilt researchers hope to use the FEL with a computer-assisted guidance system to remove tiny brain tumors near vital nerves and arteries that are too risky to reach with scalpels or conventional medical lasers. The Vanderbilt FEL center is the only facility in the world that produces beams of tunable infrared laser light powerful enough for surgery and is equipped for human operations. The ONR Medical Free Electron Laser Program supports five Free Electron Laser centers in the country, including the one at Vanderbilt.