Transforming the use of x-rays in science and society

This project aims to build a research group to drive a transformation in the use of x-rays in science and society by replacing the mechanism upon which this has been based for over a century, x-ray absorption. X-rays are electromagnetic waves, and are therefore characterized not only by their amplitude, which is changed by absorption, but also by their phase. Pioneering experiments carried out in the nineties at large and expensive facilities called synchrotrons showed that phase effects can solve the main problem of x-ray imaging, low image contrast due to small absorption differences. This both enhances the visibility of all details in an image, and allows the detection of features invisible to conventional x-ray methods. The benefits this could bring to fields as diverse as medicine, biology, material science, etc were immediately understood, but an effective translation into real-world applications failed because it looked like using a synchrotron was necessary to obtain significant image enhancements.Recently, the PI developed a technique (coded-aperture phase contrast imaging) which showed that this is not true. This technique allows achieving advantages comparable to those obtained at synchrotrons with conventional x-ray sources. This makes the above transformation a concrete possibility for the first time.Although a complete transformation will take longer than the five years of the project, we will seed it by running a series of pilot experiments which will:1) explore the potential of the proposed approach and adapt it to applications in a variety of important fields;2) develop new scientific instruments allowing studies which until now were only possible at synchrotrons to be carried out in conventional labs;3) develop new x-ray methods which will allow the investigation of new scientific fields currently inaccessible.The technique invented by the PI will be applied in new areas of medicine, security, material science, and others. In medicine, we will tackle problems such as imaging blood vessels without contrast agents, enabling earlier detection of breast and other cancers and of osteoporosis, and developing new contrast agents to allow physiological studies with x-rays. We will develop strategies to substantially reduce x-ray dose, which would make radiology safer and allow the expansion of screening campaigns. In security, we will improve threat detection and material recognition. In material science, we will develop tools to detect defects in new materials (e.g. composites, the basis of future aerospace and transport industry, currently posing a challenge to existing test tools) and to allow earlier detection of cracks and corrosion in metals and defects in plastics.Phase-based x-ray scanners will be developed to enable microscopic studies of cells and detection of plaques and metal concentration in tissues in a conventional laboratory setting. X-ray phase methods will be combined with other, functional imaging modalities to develop a new generation of small-animal scanners which will be used in biology and drug development.At synchrotrons, we will combine the increased phase sensitivity of the method developed by the PI with other, cutting-edge methods to push the sensitivity of phase techniques further. These methods will be used to study important scientific areas currently inaccessible, e.g. the mechanisms of tumour invasion.The group will disseminate the obtained results both to specialized audiences (through scientific publications and conference presentations) and to the general public (through public engagement activities). We will collaborate with industry to ensure that the outcome of the applied elements of the research programme are taken to the exploitation stage, and therefore that its full impact is realized. The group will become a world-leading team and produce a step change in x-ray science and its application, to the benefit of society as a whole and UK plc in particular.

Although sometimes overlooked, x-ray imaging is used in almost all fields of science and society. This project will substantially improve all applications of x-ray imaging, and the range of areas where it will have an impact is consequently wide. Medicine: this project will enable earlier detection of life threatening illnesses such as coronary diseases and various types of cancer. In these diseases, earlier diagnosis is of paramount importance, as it can for example make the difference between a cancer that can be cured and one that cannot. However, early diagnosis is important also in non life-threatening diseases (one example we will target is osteoporosis), as treating a disease at an earlier stage can lead to a different evolution of the disease itself, and therefore to improved quality of life, with less need for constant care, etc. The project will create a new type of phase-based x-ray contrast agents, which will enable functional studies (e.g. of angiogenesis) to be performed with x-rays. It will substantially reduce the radiation dose by exploiting the slow decrease of phase effects with increasing x-ray energy, making radiology safer. This will enable extending screening campaigns, with further benefits on the early detection of important diseases. It will provide new tools for treatment planning/delivery/assessment. Beneficiaries include clinicians, who will have access to new diagnostic and therapeutic tools; the NHS, which will be able to reduce costs and provide better healthcare as a result of improved and less invasive diagnostic techniques; the medical industry, through the commercialization of the new technology, and, ultimately and most importantly, the patients. Material science: we will provide test tools for composite materials. These materials are the future workhorse of the aerospace and transport industries and are currently very difficult to test. The aerospace and transport sectors will benefit, but beneficiaries will also include manufacturers of test systems, Governmental bodies and the general public. Another area that we will target is that of early detection of corrosion/porosity/fatigue cracks in a variety of materials. This will be beneficial to various industrial sectors, among which the nuclear sector, the importance of which to a secure supply of energy for the UK will rise over the coming years, which will benefit through improved waste control. In general terms, the development of improved non-destructive testing tools will be of benefit to a variety of industrial products including microchips and other electronic components, pharmaceuticals, etc. It should be noted that better testing tools are also key to reduce the carbon footprint of all products. Biology: we will produce phase-based x-ray scanners which will enable new studies to be performed in conventional laboratories. This includes studies now possible only at synchrotrons. Some areas of cell biology, tissue studies to understand important diseases, etc are just a few examples in which the developed instruments will generate benefit not only to the scientific community, but also to the pharmaceutical industry and thus ultimately to the NHS and the patients. This also includes the development of new small-animal scanners with increased sensitivity. Security: improved threat detection will be available at airports, customs and strategically important premises in general. Authorities, companies manufacturing security scanners and ultimately the general public will benefit. Finally, companies active in the development and commercialization of scientific equipment will benefit from novel instrumentation developed in this project. Not only does this include manufacturers of x-ray sources, detectors, full imaging systems, etc but also companies active in the field of nanofabrication, and in particular microlithography, should the inclusion of coded-aperture or similar devices become common practice in x-ray systems.