Transforming the use of x-rays in science and society

Lead Research Organisation: University College London
Department Name: Medical Physics and Biomedical Eng

Abstract

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.

Planned Impact

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.

Organisations

 
Description This is a challenging engineering grant aimed at a) further developing my phase-based x-ray methods and b) identifying and pursuing new areas of application. Generally speaking, the use of phase in x-ray imaging leads to highly increased image quality and improved feature detection - to the extent that details invisible to conventional x-rays can be detected by phase-based methods.

As a means to achieve points a) and b) above, I have established a large international collaboration centered on the activities of my group. Substantial collaborations have been initiated, notably with three synchrotrons (Diamond in UK, the ESRF in France and ELETTRA in Italy). Experiments have been conducted at all these facilities and set-ups based on my method installed at all three synchrotrons. This has already resulted in the development of a new method with 10-100 times more phase sensitivity than those currently available (paper published in Phys. Rev. Lett.).

Additional new collaborations that have been established in the framework of this grant and are still active include:

- Imperial College to look at a) cartilage diseases (M. Marenzana) b) composite materials (P. Robinson) c) scaffolds for regenerative medicine (J. Jones);

- ICH to look at new methods in regenerative medicine (P. De Coppi);

- John Vane Science Centre to study tumour invasion mechanism (L. Jones);

- The Ludwig-Maximillian University in Munich to study dose reduction mechanisms in Radiology (P. Coan); the ESRF (A. Bravin) is also a partner on this activity;

- The University of Oxford on a) the development of new, microbubble-based contrast agents (E. Stride) and b) use of phase methods in monitoring treatment response in small-animal models (B. Vojnovic);

- Diamond, MARS Bioimaging and Pixirad on the use of spectroscopic pixellated detectors for single-shot phase retrieval methods;

- the University of Strathclyde (D. Jaroszynski) on the application of our mehtods with new x-ray sources.

Please note that these are just a few representative examples: for the full list of established collaborations, see our website http://www.ucl.ac.uk/medphys/research/axim. A number of industrial collaborations have also been initiated, which resulted in a series of agreements for technological exploitation in various areas; as a result, four pre-commercial prototypes have been built by three separate companies, and a fifth one is being built by a fourth company.
Exploitation Route As mentioned above, ultimately we expect the technology to be deployed worldwide in a range of non-academic contexts which will include hospital, clinics, industry, customs, etc Industry has been heavily engaged in our activity since the start of the grant, as a consequence of exploitation routes having been incorporated in the original project plan. In addition to this we regularly present our results to industrial actors worldwide and hold regular meetings/workshops with diverse audiences. Ideally we would like to pursue applications of our technology on the widest possible number of applications, including e.g. medicine, biology, cultural heritage, material science, non-destructive testing, security, etc. In terms of practical steps forward, an agreement was signed with Nikon/Nikon Metrology UK that gives them an option to exploit the technology in a diverse range of fields. For exploitation in security, Nikon Metrology UK has stipulated an agreement with a UK company (Anglo Scientific) and a dedicated startup (XPCI Technology Ltd) was created as a result.

The key element to add to the previous submission is that more collaborations have been established, that a partner for exploitation in pre-clinical imaging (Perkin Elmer) has been identified and activities are on the way, and that the first pre-commercial prototypes have been developed with Nikon Metrology UK (now "Nikon X-Tek Systems"). Finally, the "3D" upgrade of the technology obtained through EP/L001381/1 will be made widely available to Academic and Industrial users from the UK and worldwide through its inclusion in the National Research Facility for lab x-ray CT (EP/T02593X/1).
Sectors Aerospace, Defence and Marine,Agriculture, Food and Drink,Electronics,Energy,Environment,Healthcare,Manufacturing, including Industrial Biotechology,Culture, Heritage, Museums and Collections,Pharmaceuticals and Medical Biotechnology,Security and Diplomacy,Transport,Other
URL https://www.ucl.ac.uk/medical-physics-biomedical-engineering/research/research-groups/advanced-x-ray-imaging-group-axim
 
Description While at the beginning of this project the technology was still in its infancy, it has been significantly developed through this and other grants, and there are now significant signs it will be exploited in the near future. After receiving expressions of interest from approximately 20 companies, we have signed an agreement with one (for exploitation in NDT/metrology/industrial/security screening/specimen imaging), we have an option and an externally funded project in place with a second one (for exploitation in pre-clinical imaging), and we are discussing options with two more companies for exploitation in clinical imaging. Since the last update of this document, the name of the first company we signed the agreement with has been made known (Nikon/Nikon Metrology UK); more recently, Nikon Metrology UK has also signed an additional agreement with Anglo Scientific for exploitation in security, which resulted in the creation of a dedicated startup (XPCI Technology Ltd). In addition to the above, an agreement has been reached with a company (Perkin Elmer) for exploitation in the pre-clinical field, and the first pre-commercial prototypes have been built with the existing partners. New areas of exploitation have also been opened, and are currently being explored. A significant amount of engagement activities has also been undertaken, at all levels (see dedicated section of this submission). Finally, the "3D" upgrade of the technology obtained through EP/L001381/1 will be made widely available to Academic and Industrial users from the UK and worldwide through its inclusion in the National Research Facility for lab x-ray CT (EP/T02593X/1).
Sector Aerospace, Defence and Marine,Construction,Electronics,Energy,Healthcare,Manufacturing, including Industrial Biotechology,Culture, Heritage, Museums and Collections,Pharmaceuticals and Medical Biotechnology,Security and Diplomacy,Transport
Impact Types Cultural,Economic
 
Description A UK facility for 4-D and correlative imaging using x-ray nano computed tomography", EPSRC Strategic Equipment Investments
Amount £2,433,200 (GBP)
Organisation Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) 
Sector Public
Country United Kingdom
Start 08/2014 
End 07/2017
 
Description A multi-contrast X-ray nanoscope for multidisciplinary research
Amount £1,252,808 (GBP)
Organisation Wellcome Trust 
Sector Charity/Non Profit
Country United Kingdom
Start 04/2021 
End 03/2026
 
Description A new approach to material identification with x-rays based on the attenuation/phase duality
Amount £69,321 (GBP)
Organisation Defence Science & Technology Laboratory (DSTL) 
Sector Public
Country United Kingdom
Start 01/2021 
End 07/2021
 
Description A soft X-Ray Phase-Based Microscope for Biomedical Applications
Amount $1,800,000 (USD)
Organisation National Institutes of Health (NIH) 
Sector Public
Country United States
Start 05/2020 
End 01/2024
 
Description CASE Award - industrial component ("Multi-modal imaging for characterization and testing of advanced materials")
Amount £23,500 (GBP)
Organisation Nikon 
Sector Private
Country Global
Start 09/2017 
End 09/2020
 
Description CASE award ("Multi-modal imaging for characterization and testing of advanced materials")
Amount £69,960 (GBP)
Organisation Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) 
Sector Public
Country United Kingdom
Start 09/2017 
End 09/2020
 
Description Detecting explosives and weapons via high-throughput multi-modal x-ray imaging
Amount £72,892 (GBP)
Funding ID IRC 2013 - 37765-271212 
Organisation Home Office 
Sector Public
Country United Kingdom
Start 04/2014 
End 09/2014
 
Description Detecting explosives and weapons via high-throughput multi-modal x-ray imaging - full prototype", IRC-SBRI
Amount £440,364 (GBP)
Organisation Home Office 
Department Home Office Scientific Development Branch
Sector Public
Country United Kingdom
Start 02/2015 
End 01/2017
 
Description Discovery To Use (D2U), internally disbursed by UCL as part of their EPSRC "Impact Acceleration Account" (EP/R511638/1)
Amount £97,772 (GBP)
Funding ID Part of EP/R511638/1 
Organisation Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) 
Sector Public
Country United Kingdom
Start 09/2018 
End 07/2020
 
Description EPSRC Healthcare Impact Partnership "Improving the outcomes of oesophageal interventions through novel x-ray based imaging methods"
Amount £948,478 (GBP)
Funding ID EP/P023231/1 
Organisation Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) 
Sector Public
Country United Kingdom
Start 08/2017 
End 01/2021
 
Description Evaluation of edge-illumination based CT for commercialization of the method in industrial applications
Amount £21,000 (GBP)
Organisation Nikon 
Sector Private
Country Global
Start 09/2015 
End 02/2016
 
Description Evaluation of edge-illumination based dark-field imaging for commercialization of the method in industrial applications
Amount £49,648 (GBP)
Organisation Nikon 
Sector Private
Country Global
Start 06/2014 
End 06/2015
 
Description Experimental equipment at UCL - X-Ray bundle
Amount £843,989 (GBP)
Organisation Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) 
Sector Public
Country United Kingdom
Start 04/2015 
End 03/2016
 
Description FASS (Future Aviation Security Solutions) "Combining X-ray Phase Contrast Imaging and Deep Learning to Transform Baggage Scanning"
Amount £114,030 (GBP)
Organisation Government of the UK 
Sector Public
Country United Kingdom
Start 04/2017 
End 09/2017
 
Description Further development of code-aperture x-ray phase contrast imaging for commercialization of the method in industrial applications
Amount £48,145 (GBP)
Organisation Nikon 
Sector Private
Country Global
Start 01/2013 
End 12/2013
 
Description HICF ("EFFICIENT INTRAOPERATIVE DETECTION OF TUMOUR MARGINS THROUGH X-RAY PHASE CONTRAST CT")
Amount £1,240,861 (GBP)
Funding ID 200137/Z/15/Z 
Organisation Wellcome Trust 
Sector Charity/Non Profit
Country United Kingdom
Start 11/2016 
End 10/2019
 
Description IRC "New Zeff/SCATTeff from 8-dimensional data acquired in a single scan"
Amount £71,104 (GBP)
Organisation Home Office 
Sector Public
Country United Kingdom
Start 05/2017 
End 09/2017
 
Description Imaging ultra-small angle x-ray scattering with edge-illumination: exploiting sub-pixel information in medical diagnostics, materials science and security screening, Marie Curie Intra-European Fellowships
Amount € 183,455 (EUR)
Funding ID 657621 
Organisation European Commission 
Sector Public
Country European Union (EU)
Start 07/2015 
End 06/2017
 
Description Innovative Research Scheme - "Single-scan collection of 7-dimensional x-ray dataset for enhanced threat detection"
Amount £446,854 (GBP)
Funding ID 84887-537251 
Organisation Small Business Research Initiative (SBRI) 
Sector Public
Country United Kingdom
Start 08/2018 
End 01/2020
 
Description International Exchanges award
Amount £1,308 (GBP)
Organisation The Royal Society 
Sector Charity/Non Profit
Country United Kingdom
Start 03/2017 
End 06/2017
 
Description Investigating the potential of edge-illumination based x-ray phase contrast imaging in the field of angiography (CASE award industrial component)
Amount £23,167 (GBP)
Organisation Siemens AG 
Department Siemens Corporate Research
Sector Private
Country United States
Start 10/2014 
End 09/2018
 
Description Investigating the potential of edge-illumination based x-ray phase contrast imaging in the field of angiography (CASE award)
Amount £69,524 (GBP)
Funding ID 1647688 
Organisation Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) 
Sector Public
Country United Kingdom
Start 10/2014 
End 09/2018
 
Description Label-free multi-scale x-ray imaging for the study of cell differentiation and colonisation of scaffolds in regenerative medicine
Amount £8,160 (GBP)
Organisation The Royal Society 
Sector Charity/Non Profit
Country United Kingdom
Start 12/2019 
End 12/2022
 
Description Laboratory-Based Coded Aperture X-ray Phase Contrast Imaging
Amount £85,000 (GBP)
Funding ID 334056 
Organisation European Commission 
Sector Public
Country European Union (EU)
Start 06/2013 
End 05/2017
 
Description Maximizing sensitivity and resolution in edge illumination - based X-ray phase-contrast imaging methods
Amount £85,000 (GBP)
Funding ID 333990 
Organisation European Commission 
Sector Public
Country European Union (EU)
Start 06/2013 
End 05/2017
 
Description Micro-radian x-ray scattering: transformative technology for industrial and medical diagnostics
Amount £2,780,000 (GBP)
Funding ID CiET1819\2\78 
Organisation Royal Academy of Engineering 
Sector Charity/Non Profit
Country United Kingdom
Start 10/2019 
End 09/2029
 
Description National Research Facility for Lab X-ray CT
Amount £10,097,652 (GBP)
Funding ID EP/T02593X/1 
Organisation Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) 
Sector Public
Country United Kingdom
Start 11/2020 
End 10/2025
 
Description Nikon-UCL Prosperity Partnership on Next-Generation X-Ray Imaging
Amount £2,283,598 (GBP)
Funding ID EP/T005408/1 
Organisation Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) 
Sector Public
Country United Kingdom
Start 12/2019 
End 11/2024
 
Description PLAN TO ACQUIRE MINIATURIZE THE EDGE ILLUMINATION (EI) X-RAY PHASE CONTRAST IMAGING (XPCI) SETUP TO MEET PRACTICAL REQUIREMENTS FOR A PRE-CLINICAL IMAGING SYSTEM
Amount £114,483 (GBP)
Organisation Perkin Elmer 
Sector Private
Country United States
Start 11/2017 
End 08/2018
 
Description Stjepan Marcelja Visiting Fellowship
Amount $5,000 (AUD)
Organisation Australian National University (ANU) 
Sector Academic/University
Country Australia
Start 03/2017 
End 03/2017
 
Description Three-dimensional quantitative x-ray phase imaging
Amount £229,086 (GBP)
Funding ID EP/L001381/1 
Organisation Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) 
Sector Public
Country United Kingdom
Start 07/2013 
End 06/2015
 
Description Towards a clinical translation of x-ray phase contrast imaging to angiography
Amount £20,415 (GBP)
Funding ID pFACT 48939 
Organisation UCL Business 
Sector Private
Country United Kingdom
Start 12/2014 
End 07/2015
 
Description Translation of quantitative 2D coded aperture phase contrast imaging from the synchrotron to the preclinical laboratory
Amount $10,000 (CAD)
Organisation Burroughs Wellcome Fund 
Sector Charity/Non Profit
Country United States
Start 06/2014 
End 11/2014
 
Description Workshop Allocation - European Cooperation for Science and Technology (COST) in the framework of action MP1207 (Enhanced X-ray Tomographic Reconstruction: Experiment, Modeling, and Algorithms)
Amount € 5,000 (EUR)
Organisation European Cooperation in Science and Technology (COST) 
Sector Public
Country Belgium
Start 09/2015 
End 09/2015
 
Description Workshop Allocation - European Cooperation for Science and Technology (COST) in the framework of action MP1207 (Enhanced X-ray Tomographic Reconstruction: Experiment, Modeling, and Algorithms)
Amount € 5,000 (EUR)
Organisation European Cooperation in Science and Technology (COST) 
Sector Public
Country Belgium
Start 03/2017 
End 03/2017
 
Title 1D ptychography 
Description NB the above does not really apply as it seems to be tailored to medical/biological research only. Ptychography is a new phase based method that can yield nanometric resolution without requiring lenses. It does though require very long exposure times and very high x-ray doses, and only enables scanning very small objects. We have developed a method in which sacrificing the nanometric resolution along one direction (but maintaining it in the other) removes all the above limitations. 
Type Of Material Improvements to research infrastructure 
Provided To Others? No  
Impact Still very early days: the first paper was only published a few months ago (Jul 2014) and analysis of some data is still underway; however there are plans to expand the use of this at Diamond, and the Swiss Light Source has already expressed an interest in implementing it. 
 
Title Coded-aperture x-ray phase contrast imaging 
Description NB the above does not really apply as it seems to be tailored to medical/biological research only. This is the adaptation of the edge-illumination principle to laboratory sources (through masks) and the first ever phase contrast imaging method working with fully incoherent sources. 
Type Of Material Improvements to research infrastructure 
Year Produced 2012 
Provided To Others? Yes  
Impact Systems based on this principle are under design and construction at the Universities of Houston and Saskatchewan and at the NDA. Two large companies are evaluating it with the aim of exploiting it commercially. 
 
Title Cycloidal Computed Tomography 
Description This is a new CT method in which the object is rototranslated in a structured beam. It increases resolution and there is prelimnary evidence that it can lead to dose reductions. 
Type Of Material Improvements to research infrastructure 
Year Produced 2020 
Provided To Others? Yes  
Impact This has been the subject of a UCL press release, and picked up by several media worldwide, e.g.: https://physicstoday.scitation.org/do/10.1063/PT.6.1.20200730a/full/ https://physicsworld.com/a/cycloidal-ct-boosts-image-quality-while-reducing-radiation-dose/ https://www.news-medical.net/news/20200724/Novel-CT-scan-method-reduces-radiation-exposure.aspx https://www.medimaging.net/general-imaging/articles/294783761/innovative-ct-scan-technique-reduces-radiation-exposure.html https://medicaldialogues.in/radiology/news/new-ct-scan-technique-may-help-lower-radiation-exposure-67943 https://www.wbmirror.com/2020/07/24/new-ct-scan-method-lowers-radiation-exposure/ https://www.theimagingwire.com/2020/07/27/pocus-alternative-cv19-pxs-pain-change/ https://www.itnonline.com/content/new-ct-scan-method-lowers-radiation-exposure https://www.diagnosticimaging.com/view/new-ct-method-could-lower-radiation-exposure https://www.auntminnieeurope.com/index.aspx?sec=ser?=def&pag=dis&ItemID=619072 https://www.healthimaging.com/topics/diagnostic-imaging/ct-slashes-radiation-retaining-image-quality?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=hi_diagnostic_imaging https://www.plexusmd.com/md/post/cycloidal-computed-tomography-a-novel/56502 http://colgatephys111.blogspot.com/2020/11/dr-charlotte-hagen.html https://www.mazree.com/article/the-most-innovative-medical-equipment-in-2020/74 https://qsstudy.com/technology/new-ct-scan-technique-reduces-radiation-exposure https://www.dotmed.com/news/story/52036 
URL https://www.ucl.ac.uk/news/2020/jul/new-ct-scan-method-lowers-radiation-exposure
 
Title Edge-Illumination X-Ray Phase Contrast Imaging 
Description NB the above does not really apply as it seems to be tailored to medical/biological research only. Edge-Illumination X-Ray Phase Contrast Imaging is a new synchrotron-based x-ray imaging method that provides phase sensitivity one order of magnitude higher than any other existing method (see Diemoz et al PRL 2013 in publication list). As such it opens the way to applications which were previously inaccessible. 
Type Of Material Improvements to research infrastructure 
Year Produced 2012 
Provided To Others? Yes  
Impact The ESRF, Diamond and Elettra are using the method and developments are underway to make it more widely available to their user community. A first contact has been made with DESY in Hamburg to have a first trial run also at that synchrotron, and discussions are underway with the Canadian light source, the APS and other synchrotrons. 
 
Title Imaging the ultra-small angle scattering with edge illumination 
Description This is a method that enables imaging the ultra-small angle scattering distribution generated locally by a sample using a lab-based system and a conventional x-ray source. 
Type Of Material Improvements to research infrastructure 
Year Produced 2016 
Provided To Others? Yes  
Impact It is relatively early for impact but we have identified early detection of emphysema as a key application and we are currently seeking funding to explore this further; more applications will follow. In the meantime we have also achieved significant steps in terms of making the approach quantitative, to provide e.g. average porosity or particle size in a material. 
 
Title beam-tracking based tri-modal x-ray imaging 
Description NB the above does not really apply as it seems to be tailored to medical/biological research only. This provides phase contrast, absorption and dark-field images with a single scan of the sample through the beam. It is at the moment available only at Diamond as a planar imaging method, but we are currently a) expanding it to CT and b) looking at its possible implementation at other facilities. 
Type Of Material Improvements to research infrastructure 
Provided To Others? No  
Impact It is still early but we expect this could find widespread use as well as be translatable for use with conventional sources. 
 
Title incoherent x-ray dark field imaging 
Description This is a new dark field imaging method working with incoherent sample illumination, which was previously considered impossible as the dark field signal was considered in itself a "decoherence" effect (in this sense, this developments has more profound physics implications). It reveals details on the imaged sample on a scale much smaller than the pixel size of the detector used to acquire the images. 
Type Of Material Improvements to research infrastructure 
Year Produced 2014 
Provided To Others? Yes  
Impact This is now used by Nikon and at the basis of our new agreement with them. We have also started a collaboration with the Elettra synchrotron on this and an experiment is scheduled for Dec 2014. 
 
Title laboratory-based x-ray phase contrast microscopy 
Description NB the above does not really apply as it seems to be tailored to medical/biological research only. This is the microscopic implementation of the coded-aperture method which allows fully quantitative hard x-ray phase contrast imaging 1 micron resolution with conventional laboratory equipment. 
Type Of Material Improvements to research infrastructure 
Year Produced 2014 
Provided To Others? Yes  
Impact A prototype is under designed at should be installed at Nikon Core Technologies in 2015. 
 
Title Extraction of ultra-small angle scattering signatures from edge-illuminaiton based phase imaging data 
Description This method uses reference and sample curves plus a deconvolution procedure to extract ultra-small angle scattering signatures from samples that have been imaged using an edge-illumination system. A slightly more sophisticated acquisition procedure might be needed for the retrieval to be effective. A simplified approach that extracts the distribution's moments rather than retrieving the full distribution has also been developed. 
Type Of Material Data analysis technique 
Year Produced 2016 
Provided To Others? Yes  
Impact No impact yet as this is still heavily under research, but we expect application in various fields across life & physical sciences. 
 
Title Non-iterative phase integration 
Description Most x-ray phase imaging methods are "differential" i.e. yield the first derivative of the phase change - this has to be integrated to obtaine the phase, and direct integration results in significant image artefacts. Up to now the only way to obtain artefact-free integration was through iterative approaches, which are extremely computationally intensive - making applications in CT very difficult, as in that case many images (one per projection angle) need to be integrated. We have developed a non-iterative method that yields equivalently artefact-free results. 
Type Of Material Data analysis technique 
Year Produced 2020 
Provided To Others? Yes  
Impact It is too early to say but we expect it will be widely adopted; our group and our collaborators are already using it. 
 
Title calculation of effective energy in phase imaging 
Description Effective energy has been used for ages in e.g. conventional absorption based CT. While developing our phase retrieval approaches we have realised that in phase imaging the concept is radically different, and have developed a model to explain this (Olivo & Munro PRA 2013). 
Type Of Material Data handling & control 
Year Produced 2013 
Provided To Others? Yes  
Impact Despite this being a recent achievement, it is now used by the University of Houston and we expect that more will follow. 
 
Title extraction of dark field imaging signatures from incoherent datasets 
Description This is am algorithm that allows the extraction of dark field imaging signatures from incoherent x-ray datasets. It has two versions - a simplified one that enables an analytical solution but assumes Gaussian scattering distribution, and an iterative one which is more computationally intensive but in which the scattering distribution can have any shape. 
Type Of Material Data analysis technique 
Year Produced 2014 
Provided To Others? Yes  
Impact Nikon is currently applying this method to some of their scientific problems - the method is very recent so we expect that more will ensue. 
 
Title incoherent phase retrieval 
Description This is the first time ever in which quantitative phase retrieval can be performed on data acquired with incoherent sources (see Munro et al PNAS 2012). 
Type Of Material Data handling & control 
Year Produced 2012 
Provided To Others? Yes  
Impact Groups in Trieste (Synchrotron and University), Ludwig-MAximillian University Munich, University of Houston, University of Saskatchewan are now using this. 
 
Description AGFA 
Organisation Agfa HealthCare
Country Belgium 
Sector Hospitals 
PI Contribution We have helped them develop a prototype to investigate translation of our technology into a clinical system
Collaborator Contribution They have given us access to their prototype that casts new lights on the implications of using larger focal spots and mask apertures - this provided useful new insight on how to move the technology towards clinical implementation. They are exploring new fabrication options to manufacture the x-ray masks and sharing the information with us. They are in the process of funding a PhD studentship in my group.
Impact It is multidisciplinary - physics engineering and medicine. Outputs are new ideas/plans for a) clinical translation b) fabrication of the optical elements.
Start Year 2017
 
Description Anglo-Scientific 
Organisation Anglo Scientific Ltd
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Private 
PI Contribution We have developed a joint commercialisation strategy, initially in the area of security. This area is currently licensed out to Nikon, and Nikon and Anglo-Scientific are developing a collaboration agreement to jointly pursue exploitation in this field. Anglo-Scientific has set up a dedicated company to do so (XPCI Technology Ltd), and we have also jointly submitted an application to the first call of the Future Aviation Security Solutions (FASS) scheme, which was successful.
Collaborator Contribution They helped us scope out exploitation routes in security and conducted a "mini-due-diligence" study on the technology, to be followed shortly by full due diligence. This brings our technology closer to the market and increases its value.
Impact new company founded and collaboration/exploitation framework under development
Start Year 2014
 
Description CNR - Crystallography Institute 
Organisation National Research Council
Country Italy 
Sector Public 
PI Contribution Our collaborator at the CNR Institute of Crystallography is a world-leader in phase reconstruction problems. We have discussed options for a new method and provided datasets on which to test it.
Collaborator Contribution He has helped us develop the theoretical framework for the new method, collaborated in data analysis and co-wrote the paper.
Impact We have published a joint paper on the new method (1D ptychography). While this at the moment is almost purely physics (optics), in the near future we plan to apply the new method to medicine, biology, materials science etc.
Start Year 2014
 
Description Centrum Wiskunde & Informatica 
Organisation CMP Information
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Private 
PI Contribution We are providing datasets on which to flexibly implement and further develop their machine learning solutions
Collaborator Contribution They are providing us with access to their machine learning solutions
Impact Still early but we have a first joint paper in preparation
Start Year 2019
 
Description Creatv Microtech 
Organisation Creatv MicroTech
Country United States 
Sector Private 
PI Contribution Creatv Microtech has fabricated most of the masks we have used so far in our edge-illuminaiton approach. I have effectively opened a new line of business for them, since other groups have ordered similar devices since. I have visited them in two occasions and held lectures to explain how we use the masks and why, which culminated in meetings aimed at improving the mask fabrication process. The first iteration has already taken place resulting in masks with less defects and better gold/substrate adhesion; another is imminent which will be aimed at the fabrication of masks with larger areas.
Collaborator Contribution Creatv Microtech has fabricated for free a number of test structures, which we used in several experiments. In one occasions, they have invited me over at their expenses and showed me their facilities, which enabled a much better understanding of the mask fabrication process and especially of what can and cannot be done with the technology. They have also brokered contacts with the FDA (wit which the terms of a collaboration are under discussion which, if successful, will result in their endorsement of our technology) and with the Frederick Cancer Institute, again a very valuable contact for future collaborations.
Impact Papers are not particularly relevant in this case although one could argue that most edge-illumination phase contrast papers would not have been possible without Creatv Microtech. One important outcome is the availability of mask-based systems not only in our labs but also at Elettra, Diamond and the ESRF (for what concerns our collaborators), plus other labs worldwide e.g. the Universities of Houston and Saskatchewan and soon the FDA and possibly DESY in Hamburg, Germany; considering that out technology is very young we expect this to keep growing in the near future.
Start Year 2006
 
Description Dexela 
Organisation Dexela
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Private 
PI Contribution I have characterised their detector technology using both conventional sources and synchrotron radiation.
Collaborator Contribution They have: co-funded a PhD studentship, loaned us their detector on several occasions and trained us on its use, came to Elettra with us at their expenses for a synchrotron experiment, provided access to their facilities and laboratories, given us their proprietary tomosynthesis reconstruction software for free.
Impact We have published 2 joint papers plus one is under review; moreover our proof-of-concept tomosynthesis paper was made possible by their software. The results of our characterisation now form part of their commercial strategy - e.g. we have demonstrated record-high DQE and this is a key element. Research is again at the intersection of physics/engineering and medicine.
Start Year 2009
 
Description Diamond 
Organisation Diamond Light Source
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Private 
PI Contribution I have been involved in the beamline design phase as a member of the user working group. When the beamtime became operational, I have installed an edge illumination system at beamline I13 and developed two other new phase-based imaging methods which will become available to the user community.
Collaborator Contribution They have provided access to beamtime, sample preparation and other labs, analysis software, computational resources, participated in the data analyse sand in proposal and paper writing.
Impact So far this has resulted in 6 joint publications; moreover a long (6 days) beamtime has recently (Nov 2014) been concluded and analysis of the data is underway, which we expect to lead to more publications. As well as physics and engineering, applications of the new imaging methods have so far included medicine, biology and material science.
Start Year 2008
 
Description Direct Conversion 
Organisation Direct Conversion AB
Country Sweden 
Sector Private 
PI Contribution We are opening new areas of application for their detection technology
Collaborator Contribution They provide us with access to, and training on, new detector technology
Impact We have published some papers based on their detection technology, and one of their detectors is currently part of a pre-commercial prototype develop (with mutual knowledge) by a 3rd party - details are still confidential at this stage
Start Year 2015
 
Description EMPA 
Organisation Empa - Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology
Country Switzerland 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution The group at EMPA we collaborate with is concerned with absorption of water in building materials. They have identified our method as a possible way to detect and dynamically track phenomena of this type. We have explained to them what our technique can and cannot do, and as a result we have submitted a joint application for beamtime at the ESRF; not only was this accepted, but it was selected as one of the highlights of that round of submissions. We are also designing an lab-based experiment to perform measurements also here at UCL.
Collaborator Contribution They have opened up a new area of application for our method which holds great promise, co-written the beamtime application, and provided a range of custom-prepared samples which will serve as the basis for a lab experiment. Research is at the interface between physics/engineering and materials science with applications in construction.
Impact No outputs yet beyond the successful beamtime applications - experiments have been planned but not carried out yet.
Start Year 2013
 
Description Elettra Synchrotron 
Organisation Elettra Sincrotrone Trieste
Country Italy 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution I have installed an edge illumination phase contrast system at beamline 6.1 "SYRMEP" at ELETTRA. This is now available also to other users (e.g. a paper is currently (Nov 2014) in press on Phys. Med. Biol., for the first time without the direct involvement of my group); for the time being on a collaborative basis, in the longer term to all users. ELETTRA is the only beamline in the world where phase contrast mammography is performed in vivo on human patients: plans are currently underway to include edge-illumination in the clinical experimentation for additional phase sensitivity. A large EU grant has recently been submitted as a first step in this direction.
Collaborator Contribution They have provided free beamtime in many occasions, as well as access to support labs, sample preparation, fabrication, bench top CT machines etc. They have participated in the data analysis and writing of the papers.
Impact So far this resulted in 9 joint papers (see publication list), with more in preparation. The collaboration is interdisciplinary as it combines physics, engineering, medicine, biology, material science.
Start Year 2006
 
Description European Synchrotron Radiation Facility 
Organisation European Synchrotron Radiation Facility
Country France 
Sector Charity/Non Profit 
PI Contribution I have installed an edge illumination phase contrast system at beam lie ID17 at the ESRF. This is now available also to other users, for the time being on a collaborative basis, in the longer term to all users. This system enabled establishing a new world record in phase sensitivity (1.9 nano radians) which led to a prestigious paper in PRL. This was reported in the ESRF's research highlights for 2013. In addition, we have opened new areas of research e.g. in palaeontology and have currently established a task force for the minimisation of the delivered dose in mammography.
Collaborator Contribution The repeatedly offered in-house research time with full support of the technical and scientific staff, access to analysis and reconstruction software (including remotely from UCL), data storage, access to ancillary instrumentation and to their animal facility. They also participated in the data analysis, paper writing as well as writing of beamtime and grant proposals.
Impact So far, 5 joint papers (see publication list) including in leading journals such as Physical Review Letters and Optics Letters, additional extension of the collaboration network (e.g. with the ESRF detector group and with the Ludwig-Maximillian University of Munich) and recently the submission of a large EU collaborative grant (pending). The collaboration is highly interdisciplinary and combines physics and engineering with medicine, biology, palaeontology, material science and other disciplines.
Start Year 2011
 
Description Great Ormond Street Hospital 
Organisation Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH)
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Hospitals 
PI Contribution This is yet another outstanding problem which our imaging method can solve. Prof. Sebire from GOSH has an interest in imaging stillbirth foetuses, since ascertaining the cause of death is of mandatory importance but many parents object to post-mortems. The only imaging method that could (partly) satisfy this need is high-res MRI but this is very expensive and acquisition times are very long if sufficiently high resolution has to be reached. In a preliminary proof-of-concept experiment I have demonstrated that phase-contrast x-ray imaging could solve this problem.
Collaborator Contribution They have significantly contributed to the design of the experiment, to writing the proposal to get access to beamtime at the ESRF (we obtained proof of concept at a synchrotron and the nest step will be lab-based translation), have travelled to Grenoble at their own expenses to participate in the experiment and are currently helping with the data analysis.
Impact Again a recent addition to our range of collaborations so no outputs yet, but a paper is in preparation and we are laying down plans for future (lab-based) developments of the research - which is again interdisciplinary (physics/engineering and medicine).
Start Year 2014
 
Description Heriot Watt University 
Organisation Heriot-Watt University
Department School of Engineering & Physical Sciences
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution Provided new methods to test their samples
Collaborator Contribution provided samples and indications on what to look for/help with data interpretation
Impact evidence of effective new way to test devices produced by collaborator - will build on these achievement in the near future
Start Year 2015
 
Description IMASENIC 
Organisation IMASENIC Advanced Imaging S.L.
Country Spain 
Sector Private 
PI Contribution We are studying their detector and considering its implementation in our research approaches
Collaborator Contribution They are providing us with access and training on new detection technology
Impact We have won a joint proof-of-concept grant
Start Year 2019
 
Description ISDI 
Organisation Lackland Independent School District
Country United States 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution We are helping develop and test new detection technology, as well as developing new application areas.
Collaborator Contribution They provide us access to their detection technology and design know-how; they are also currently co-funding a PhD student
Impact This collaboration has only just started, and mutual training is underway.
Start Year 2019
 
Description Imperial College Bioeng 
Organisation Imperial College London
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution The main interest of the team at Imperial was to visualise early signs of damage in murine cartilage to develop new treatment strategies for osteoarthritis. We provided a means to do this through our phase-based x-ray imaging methods, first at synchrotrons then with conventional sources.
Collaborator Contribution They provided all the murine samples, led the image analysis and contributed to the writing of the articles.
Impact We have published 4 joint papers and won a joint research grant. Clearly interdisciplinary - physics/engineering meets biology.
Start Year 2011
 
Description Imperial college - composites centre 
Organisation Imperial College London
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution I have used our imaging methods to detect faint defects and blemishes in composite materials
Collaborator Contribution They have provided samples and participates in the data analysis
Impact So far we have only presented results at conferences but published no joint papers yet - it is an area we are planning to expand in the near future. Interdisciplinary as it encompasses physics, engineering and material science - with applications in transport.
Start Year 2009
 
Description Imperial college - materials 
Organisation Imperial College London
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution I have proposed and discussed the use of our innovative imaging methods for applications in biomaterials and new scaffolds for regenerative medicine.
Collaborator Contribution They have provided descriptions of the samples they will need imaged and will provide the samples in the near future
Impact We have secured funding for joint PhD student who has just started - she will receive a significantly interdisciplinary (physics, engineering, medicine, materials) training. No other impact yet.
Start Year 2014
 
Description Institute of Child Health 
Organisation University College London
Department Institute of Child Health
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution The research of the group we collaborate with focuses on stem cell-based regenerative medicine. I have started to solve one of their key problems which is the visualisation of scaffold repopulation processes post cell implantation, as well as structure of the scaffolds themselves (they use very peculiar scaffolds obtained from decellularized animal or cadaveric tissue).
Collaborator Contribution They have provided a large number of extremely valuable, refined and unique samples for both our synchrotron and lab-based experiments, plus key data interpretation as this is a completely new area for us. They have contributed to the data analysis and paper writing.
Impact This is a very recent collaboration however one paper is currently under review with a high impact factor journal (Journal of Hepatology, IF 10.4) and two more are in preparation. The collaboration is exquisitely interdisciplinary - physics, engineering and imaging science meet medicine and biology.
Start Year 2012
 
Description Kyoto University 
Organisation University of Kyoto
Department Graduate School of Informatics
Country Japan 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution Integrated our imaging method in their new image reconstruction framework
Collaborator Contribution Development of ad-hoc reconstruction methods for our imaging approaches
Impact Development of new algorithms
Start Year 2015
 
Description Los Alamos National Labs 
Organisation Los Alamos National Laboratory
Country United States 
Sector Public 
PI Contribution We trained them on the use of our imaging method
Collaborator Contribution They provided us access to their unique facilities
Impact Still too early - only a feasibility experiment was conducted so far.
Start Year 2019
 
Description Ludwig-Maximillian University Munich 
Organisation Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich (LMU Munich)
Country Germany 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution We have adapted our imaging technologies to teh need of the biomedical research performed by teh group at LMU - mostly with synchrotrons, but also conventional laboratory x-ray sources.
Collaborator Contribution Have provided samples for a variety of biomedical applications and contributed significantly to the data analysis
Impact This has for teh momoent resulted in several papers, joint conference presentations, and the installation of a new set up at the ESRF
Start Year 2013
 
Description Luxbright 
Organisation Lux Bright Solutions
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Private 
PI Contribution Luxbright produces new-generation x-ray sources based on a different concept. We are a) negotiating the terms to conduct characterisation on their sources b) evaluating the potential for use of their new source technologies combined with our imaging method.
Collaborator Contribution They have visited us several times and provided details on their technology; loan of a source is currently being arranged.
Impact none yet
Start Year 2015
 
Description Microworks 
Organisation MicroWorks
Country United States 
Sector Private 
PI Contribution We are suggesting new x-ray mask designs to target new application, and testing them once they have been produced
Collaborator Contribution They stretched their design capabilities to design "ad hoc" masks, and provide test structures
Impact Too early - first experiments extremely promising.
Start Year 2019
 
Description Nikon Japan and Nikon Metrology UK 
Organisation Nikon
Department Nikon UK
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Private 
PI Contribution I have introduced Nikon to our new imaging technology, provided them with access to our labs, explored together new areas of application in metrology and industrial testing. The next steps will be to extend this to new applications and help them with the design of a prototype that will be installed in Japan.
Collaborator Contribution The Nikon team has funded x-ray phase contrast research at UCL in three successive instalments, for the overall total indicated above. A team from Nikon has repeatedly visited us and we have performed a series of experiments together, as well as joint data analysis. They have provided several samples as well as new analysis tools, especially for dark field imaging. They have installed a new x-ray source in our labs and repeatedly given access to their labs in Tring for preliminary tests.
Impact Albeit most of the specific sample-orientated research is unpublished for confidentiality reasons, this research led to the development of the first lab-based hard x-ray phase contrast imaging microscope (See Endrizzi et al 2014 Opt. Lett. paper in outputs, where Nikon appears in the acknowledgments). It led to a new instrument being available in the UCL phase contrast labs which has successfully been used by other communities (e.g. for the development of electrochemical devices, where we have demonstrated detection of dendritic formation in lithium-based batteries - paper in preparation). In this sense this collaboration is interdisciplinary as it covers physics, mathematics of image reconstruction, industrial testing, energy materials, materials for transport (e.g. composites). We have plans to expand this in the area of biology soon.
Start Year 2012
 
Description PANalytical 
Organisation Malvern Panalytical
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Private 
PI Contribution This collaboration started when PANalytical acquired our former collaboration PIXIRAD. As well as continuing to develop pur collaboration on the use of PIXIRAD, on which we are providing new insights on how the detector works and its possible use in phase-based x-ray imaging, we are now exploring options to include some of our technology in other analytic methods commercialised by the company, notably for material characterisation.
Collaborator Contribution Contributions so far relate mostly to the use of PIXIRAD, for which they a) provide detectors at significantly discounted price b) provide access to non-standard software packages which enables us to use the detectors in more flexible ways/implementation c) visit us to help develop.implement new uses of the detector. This in kind contributions have a non-negligible monetary value but this has already been listed under "PIXIRAD" which is why I ticked the box "NO" in the related question for PANalytical. Collaborations on other areas are currently being negotiated, and when this is finalised I will change the above to include any new in-kind contribution not related to the use of PIXIRAD.
Impact Improved use/implementation of single-photon counting direct conversion detection technology and plans to expand use of phase methods in material characterisation. The collaboration is multidisciplinary (Materials science/Physics/Engineering).
Start Year 2017
 
Description PSI 
Organisation Paul Scherrer Institute
Country Switzerland 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution I have hosted one staff from PSI to conduct a joint experiment
Collaborator Contribution Staff time, novel detector technology, meetings, data analysis
Impact Too early - data analysis is still underway
Start Year 2018
 
Description Perkin-Elmer 
Organisation Perkin Elmer
Country United States 
Sector Private 
PI Contribution We have run a proof-of-concept study on the potential of our technology on pre-clinical (small-animal) imaging, on which the partner is a market leader
Collaborator Contribution They have funded research at UCL, reviewed all our data, helped defining the specs both in terms of imaging performance and scanner characteristics. We are currently considering a project with broader scope.
Impact We have started to generate a database of images of interest in the area of pre-clinical imaging. We are currently considering publication/conference presentations, and scoping out a larger project.
Start Year 2016
 
Description Photonic Science 
Organisation Photonic Science
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Private 
PI Contribution We have modified a design of one of their cameras by intriducing a structured scintillator matching the requirements of our phase-based imaging methods
Collaborator Contribution They run preliminary tests on the camera to our requests then made the camera available for testing in our labs
Impact We have developed new detection technology and proven it works, including tests on a medical application (hence the interdisciplinary angle). We are currently making plans to take this forward.
Start Year 2020
 
Description QMUL 
Organisation Queen Mary University of London
Department Barts Cancer Institute
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution I have proposed the use of our new imaging techniques for a) the earlier diagnosis of breast cancer and b) a tool to detect tumour micro-invasion in tissue contrast. I have imaged ~100 tissue specimens with our laboratory setup, and a few tens of tissue constructs with synchrotron radiation (at Diamond).
Collaborator Contribution They have provided hundreds of samples, trained my team on tissue histology and tumour formation, image interpretation, histological confirmation.
Impact We have published 2 papers together and co-written a successful grant application. The research is at the interface between physics/engineering and medicine/biology.
Start Year 2008
 
Description Qinetiq 
Organisation Qinetiq
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Private 
PI Contribution I have proposed the use of our imaging methods as a means to detect damage in composite materials.
Collaborator Contribution They have provided a) composite material samples, including custom-made in which flaws and blemishes were deliberately introduced b) help with data analysis and interpretation.
Impact Research still underway and no dedicated output yet, although an image of one of the Qinetiq samples appeared in a conference proceeding reviewing the overall capabilities of our methods. The research is at the interface between physics/engineering and materials science with application in transport, aeronautics and defense.
Start Year 2010
 
Description Quantum Detectors 
Organisation Quantum Detectors
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Private 
PI Contribution We have agreed to collaborate and actions have not started yet; we will use their detector technology in a radically new application.
Collaborator Contribution They will provide access to and training on their unique detector technology.
Impact None yet (see above)
Start Year 2019
 
Description Rigaku 
Organisation Rigaku
Country Japan 
Sector Private 
PI Contribution Guidelines on adaptation/use of their x-ray source technology in x-ray phase contrast imaging, brokered and run tests for new contacts with additional collaborators.
Collaborator Contribution Source modifications to meet our needs, advice on source use, insight on source technology, simulaiton software, datasheets
Impact Many of teh outcomes listed elsewhere in this portfolio have been enabled by this collaboration.
Start Year 2012
 
Description SANDIA Labs 
Organisation Sandia Laboratories
Country United States 
Sector Private 
PI Contribution We have repeatedly met with Dr. David G. Moore and developed strategies to use our technology to test several samples Dr Moore's lab is interested in, especially composites.
Collaborator Contribution Dr Moore has visited us on several occasions and is planning a new visit soon, in which occasion he will also give us some samples. He has provided knowledge on what exactly is needed from his lab in terms of testing, and is setting aside funds to contribute to a research project we are currently investigating funding options for.
Impact Plans for a) testing relevant samples of interest to the SANDIA labs b) generate funding to support a wider programme, which would include a direct contribution from SANDIA. The collaboration is multidisciplinary (Materials science/Physics/Engineering).
Start Year 2016
 
Description Scintacor 
Organisation Scintacor
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Private 
PI Contribution We are providing them access to our technology, co-developing a completely new application
Collaborator Contribution They are developing a new process for a structured scintillator that would transform our x-ray phase contrast imaging method
Impact We have set up the process and are currently refining it; this will be followed by tests which will clarify the potential of the application.
Start Year 2018
 
Description Siemens 
Organisation Siemens AG
Department Siemens Corporate Research
Country United States 
Sector Private 
PI Contribution I have started to investigate possible uses of our imaging method in healthcare applications. While this will be broader spectrum in the future, the first applications Siemens wants to focus on is angiography.
Collaborator Contribution They have offered a 20k research project (currently being negotiated between Siemens and UCLB, UCL's tech transfer office) and 1/3 of a PhD studentship, plus provided input on the research directions.
Impact Again a relatively new collaboration so no output yet but we have already developed some software which enables studying the optentia of our method in angiography and wrote a joint research proposal. Research is interdisciplinary - physics and engineering applied to medicine.
Start Year 2014
 
Description University of Bristol 
Organisation University of Bristol
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution We have introduced advanced x-ray imaging to the range of tools Kafienah's team use to characterise their cartilage regeneration/engineering approaches. This has resulted in the award of synchrotron beamtime at Diamond to perform a first collaborative experiment - analysis of the results is currently underway.
Collaborator Contribution They provided a range of engineered cartilage samples at different stages of maturation. As well as for the above mentioned experiment, we have used this as pilot samples to train a group member in the use of atomic force microscopy, therefore expaning our skillset - we are currently considering including the atomic force microscopy results in the publication on teh x-ray results.
Impact none yet other than new knowledge in the respective groups
Start Year 2015
 
Description University of Copenhagen and Technical University of Denmark 
Organisation University of Copenhagen
Country Denmark 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution We have hosted one of their team who has carried an experiment with our kit, data analysis is underway and the results are expected to lead to a publication
Collaborator Contribution Offer of staff time, collaboratuion in data analysis
Impact see above - analysis still underway
Start Year 2018
 
Description University of Dundee 
Organisation University of Dundee
Department Dundee Cancer Centre
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution I have adapted out imaging method to the imaging of breast tissue samples, trained the radiologist from Dundee on the interpretation of phase contrast images, and provided her with extensive datasets.
Collaborator Contribution She has analysed and blind scored a wide range of breast images obtained with our method, plus conventional images pif the sae specimens for comparison.
Impact We have published 2 joint papers and submitted a joint grant application. The research is at the interface between physics/engineering and medicine.
Start Year 2008
 
Description University of Glasgow 
Organisation University of Glasgow
Department MRC - University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution Members of the local team are developing image processing software which is a good match to our x-ray phase contrast images. I have provided them with datasets on which to test their software and helped with the results interpretation and data analysis.
Collaborator Contribution They have used their pattern recognition and image enhancement software on phase contrast images of our objects obtained with our method.
Impact We have published a joint paper. Research is at the interface between physics/engineering and computer science/signal and image processing.
Start Year 2010
 
Description University of Les Andes 
Organisation University of the Andes
Country Colombia 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution We have helped them design and set up a phase-based x-ray imaging system and lent them the necessary optical element
Collaborator Contribution they have made detector technology (still to be used) and student/staff time available.
Impact We have published papers and given conference presentations as a result of our joint work; the student who did the hands-on part of the work (a former student of mine while an affiliate at UCL) won the Dean's Prize and is now undertaking a PhD with us. We have planned to continue with more student exchanges, joint system development and new applications; while work so far was mostly in engineering/physics applications will be multi-disciplinary (medicine, etc).
Start Year 2019
 
Description University of Milano Bicocca 
Organisation University of Milano-Bicocca
Country Italy 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution Provided descriptions of technology and outline setups
Collaborator Contribution Visited us repeatedly, invited us to topical conferences including to chair sessions, recruiting personnel to set up lab based on our technology
Impact Their main aim is to use our (physics) methods to medicine and cultural heritage science.
Start Year 2015
 
Description University of Oxford - Bioengineering 
Organisation University of Oxford
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution I have proposed a different use of the micro bubble technology they are developing - as a new type of contrast agent for phase-based x-ray imaging.
Collaborator Contribution They have provided the samples, provided access to their facilities for sample characterisation, trained some of our personnel on making and characterising micro bubbles, participated in the experiments (including a synchrotron one at their expense) and in the data analysis.
Impact We have published a joint Applied Physics Letter and have data for what we think will be an even higher IF publication, currently in preparation. We have submitted a joint grant application and are developing plans for the future steps of the collaboration. Research is interdisciplinary as it uses physics and engineering with the purpose of applying then to medicine and biology.
Start Year 2011
 
Description University of Oxford - Radiation Oncology 
Organisation University of Oxford
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution The group is interested in imaging methods that could visualise faint localised changes caused by radiation treatment in rodents. I have conducted a pilot experiment and more will follow.
Collaborator Contribution They helped us designing the experiment, have developed dedicated simulation software and written a paper in the subject.
Impact We have published a joint paper and are developing plans to extend the collaboration.
Start Year 2012
 
Description University of Saskatchewan 
Organisation University of Saskatchewan
Country Canada 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution I have been invited over to Saskatoon in May 2013 to train the local scientist on our edge-illuminaiton method and give an extended lecture to their students. This has been followed by a visit of Prof. James Montgomery to UCL in Feb 2015, during which we have initiated tests on a new area of medical research - imaging of prostate cancer. Following that I have co-written an application for a Burroughs Wellcome Travel Fellowship with another member of the Saskatoon team - Dr. Mike Wesolowski. This has been successful and, as a result, Dr. Wesolowski is with us as I write (Oct 2014).
Collaborator Contribution The Saskatoon team has created an interest group in edge-illumination phase contrast imaging which is investigating our method with the aim to install it (with our help) a) at the local synchrotron b) in their lab (with a conventional source). They have submitted three grant applications to enable this and are waiting to hear on the outcomes. Prof. Montgomery has visited us and brought over (canine) prostate samples of which we have taken preliminary images. These were used as an indication to further optimise our method for prostate imaging, and more scans will be performed later in the year on some of the samples brought by Montgomery (which were fixed). Montgomery is also planning to send more samples should that be unsatisfactory. Moreover Dr. Wesolowski has co-written a successful application for a travel grant and we are using the time while Wesolowski is here to co-develop a new approach sensitive to phase in two directions. Wesolowski is currentlly taking part in the data acquisition and will perform image analysis and co-write the papers once he returns to Saskatoon.
Impact So far the main output is the successful travel grant; however we would expect at least 2 papers, hopefully 3, to follow in the early months of 2015. This collaboration is at the interface between physics and medicine, with elements of engineering and biology.
Start Year 2013
 
Description University of Strathclyde 
Organisation University of Strathclyde
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution I am developing an edge-illuminaiton system suitable for installation at the laser plasma source available at the University of Strathclyde, and have provided input to their new software framework that incorporates coherent in a Monte Carlo framework.
Collaborator Contribution They have made their source, detectors and beamline available for preliminary experiments aimed at designing a larger experiment which will be performed early in 2015. In that occasion, more access to the above will be provided. They have modified their simulation code to include phase contrast in general and my methods in particular.
Impact So far we have published one joint paper and developed a modification of the FLUKA Monte Carlo code that includes coherence. For the time being the collaboration is focused on physics with some element of engineering but in the longer term (i.e. after edge-illumination becomes an established method at the laser plasma source) this will be used for studies in medicine, biology, material science, etc.
Start Year 2011
 
Description University of Washington in St Louis 
Organisation Columbia University
Department Department of Biomedical Engineering
Country United States 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution Introduction to our method, datasets to reconstruct, instructions on how to reconstruct them
Collaborator Contribution development of optimised reconstruction methods for our imaging approaches
Impact several papers published
Start Year 2014
 
Description University of Western Australia 
Organisation University of Western Australia
Country Australia 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution A researcher at UWA is a world expert and has a keen interest in phase contrast imaging. We have made data available for him and discussed a number of new applications and opportunities. I have also helped him write a series of grant applications (primarily fellowships) three of which were successful.
Collaborator Contribution He analysed data, provided calculations and software, wrote and co-wrote papers.
Impact We have published 13 joint papers and co-wrote 3 successful fellowship applications, the last one of which is a prestigious Royal Society Research Fellowship which will allow our collaborator to come to work at UCL for 5 years. While the methods developed are typically within the physics/engineering remit, pursued applications so far are in medicine, biology, security, material science etc so the research is interdisciplinary.
Start Year 2012
 
Description XCounter 
Organisation Direct Conversion AB
Country Sweden 
Sector Private 
PI Contribution We have demonstrated new ways to use XCounter detectors in new imaging solutions
Collaborator Contribution They have loaned us detectors, taught them how to use them, modified the acquisition software to fit our needs
Impact The main output is the optimised inclusion of an XCounter detector in a precommercial prototype, but we are developing plans for further interaction. It is interdisciplinary: physics/engineering/image reconstruction/crime science.
Start Year 2015
 
Description iconal 
Organisation Iconal Technology Ltd
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Private 
PI Contribution We have provided consultancies and used our advanced simulation tools to help define requirements in terms of simulant design for explosive detection.
Collaborator Contribution They have provided an understanding of the requirements on simulants in the context of explosive detection systems and their testing; as well as many useful insights on related technology which is for us an active area of research.
Impact delivery of a classified report to the Government
Start Year 2014
 
Description pixirad 
Organisation PIXIRAD Imaging Counters
Country Italy 
Sector Private 
PI Contribution I have incorporated their new detector technology into our imaging system showing it opens new possibilities (e.g. "colour" phase contrast imaging) and boosts the phase sensitivity of our method.
Collaborator Contribution They have repeatedly loaned their detector to us; the first time this happened they also came over to UCL at their expenses to participate in the installation and train us on its use.
Impact Despite this collaboration having only started very recently (contacts started in 2013 but the first experiment was carried out in 2014), we have already published a joint paper and submitted a large EU grant application. The experimental sessions so far have been very fruitful: data analysis is still underway but we would expect it to lead to al least two more publications.
Start Year 2013
 
Title CODED-APERTURE X-RAY IMAGING 
Description A method of X-ray imaging includes passing an X-ray beam through a pre- sample mask 8 with a plurality of apertures 32, through a sample 10, and then through a detector mask 6 with aligned apertures 34. The beams are detected. The detector mask 6 and pre-sample mask 8 are moved with respect to one another to identify the position of maximum intensity and then moved to two further positions on equal and opposite spacings on either side of the maximum. Images are acquired and a transmission image, refraction image and scattering image calculated. 
IP Reference WO2014202949 
Protection Patent granted
Year Protection Granted 2014
Licensed Yes
Impact The patent has been licensed out to a major company (Nikon) and prototypes are under construction. Negotiations are underway for areas of exploitation not covered by the Nikon deal.
 
Title COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHY IMAGING 
Description A computed tomography method seeking higher resolutions without imposing a dose increase is described. A mask (10) forms a plurality of X-ray beam lets (14) which are passed through a subject (6), and images are captured on X-ray detector (8). The subject (6) is moved with respect to the X-ray detector and mask, including a rotation around a y axis, and a computed tomography image is reconstructed from the plurality of measured datapoints. The beam lets (14) are of small size. Figures 4-8 are blurred, figures 10, 11 and 16b contain too small letters/numbers. 
IP Reference WO2020120705 
Protection Patent application published
Year Protection Granted 2020
Licensed No
Impact See other sections for wider impact of cycloidal CT innovation - a partial list of media outlet which have reported it is appended here. We are currently in negotiations with several companies wrt licensing agreements. https://physicstoday.scitation.org/do/10.1063/PT.6.1.20200730a/full/ https://physicsworld.com/a/cycloidal-ct-boosts-image-quality-while-reducing-radiation-dose/ https://www.news-medical.net/news/20200724/Novel-CT-scan-method-reduces-radiation-exposure.aspx https://www.
 
Title PHASE IMAGING 
Description A method of phase imaging uses X-ray beams having edges overlapping with pixels. A phase image may be obtained from first and second images using one or more X-ray beam, the first image being measured with the first edge but not the second edge of each X-ray beam overlapping the corresponding pixel(s) and the second image being measured with the second edge but not the first edge overlapping the corresponding pixel(s). The gradient of the X- ray absorption function may be calculated and a proportional term included in the image processing to calculate a quantitative phase image. 
IP Reference WO2013011317 
Protection Patent granted
Year Protection Granted 2013
Licensed Yes
Impact The patent has been licensed out to a major company (Nikon) and prototypes are under construction. Negotiations are underway for areas of exploitation not covered by the Nikon deal.
 
Title X-RAY IMAGING 
Description A method of aligning masks for phase imaging or phase contrast imaging in X- ray apparatus using a pixel-type X-ray detector makes use of non-idealities of all real detectors. A mask may be provided before the sample to generate beams, adjacent to the pixels of the detector or both. The method includes moving the mask into a plurality of translational position increments and identifying the increment for which the intensity has a maximum or minimum. The identified value of the increment may vary over the pixels of the detector. Alignment positions are selected in which steps in a plot of the increment over the area of the detector are minimised and/or aligned with the rows and columns of pixels. 
IP Reference WO2013011316 
Protection Patent granted
Year Protection Granted 2013
Licensed Yes
Impact The patent has been licensed out to a major company (Nikon) and prototypes are under construction. Negotiations are underway for areas of exploitation not covered by the Nikon deal.
 
Title Inclusion of coherece in Monte-Carlo simulations 
Description Monte-Carlo methods are fast and enable an easier implementation of complex geometries and thick samples - however some features which are typically associated with wave behaviour had so far been considered impossible to include. We developed a software in collaboration with the University of Strathclyde which enables implementing elements of coherence in a Monte Carlo framework thus achieving the "best of both words" 
Type Of Technology Software 
Year Produced 2014 
Impact None yet 
 
Title Monte Carlo-based phase contrast imaging simulator 
Description This is a software that can simulate phase contrast images based on a Monte Carlo approach. Although not as rigorous as the Fresnel/Kirchoff diffraction integral approach, it is more flexible, enables the implementation of more complicated imaging system/phantom geometries, and was demonstrated to produce the same results under relaxed coherence conditions. It is not open source as not of straightforward use (yet) but we are prepared to make it available to any group that might require it. 
Type Of Technology Software 
Year Produced 2014 
Impact There are two versions of this software and one (predominantly developed by them) is in use at the University of Oxford. 
 
Title wave-based phase contrast imaging simulator 
Description This is a software that can simulate phase contrast images based on a rigorous Fresnel/Kirchoff diffraction integral approach. It is not open source as not of straightforward use (yet) but we are prepared to make it available to any group that might require it. 
Type Of Technology Software 
Year Produced 2013 
Impact It allows fast and reliable simulation of phase contrast images. Despite to being a recent development, the University of Saskatchewan is using it, and we also use it as a training tool for students at UCL. 
 
Company Name XPCI TECHNOLOGY LIMITED 
Description This company was created to initially collaborate with Nikon on the commercialisation of security applications of x-ray phase contrast imaging, then expand into other areas as appropriate 
Year Established 2017 
Impact none yet - too recent creation
 
Description "Fast, scalable, low-dose phase based x-ray imaging with conventional sources, 2nd ATTRACT TWD Symposium in Detection and Imaging Strasbourg, France Nov 4-5 2016 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact This is a targeted workshop aimed at structuring future EU activities and funding in groundbreaking technologies - we were invited to attend for teh 2nd time after our initial participation generated sufficient interest, actions should follow.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2016
 
Description "Fast, scalable, low-dose phase-based x-ray imaging with coinventional sources", ATTRACT TWS Workshop, ESADE, Barcelona, Spain, Jun 30-Jul 1 2016 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact This is a targeted workshop aimed at structuring future EU activities and funding in groundbreaking technologies
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2016
 
Description "Game-changing X-Ray technology developed - less radiation, better quality diagnostics and security" article on Technology.org website 
Form Of Engagement Activity A magazine, newsletter or online publication
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Demonstration of interest in our research and dissemination among much wider audience
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2016
URL http://www.technology.org/2016/12/16/game-changing-x-ray-technology-developed-less-radiation-better-...
 
Description "Pint of Science" talk - "Looking inside our bodies: detecting the undetectable" 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact This was part of a series of public engagement activities our group takes part in
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2016
 
Description "X-ray advance offers superior bomb detection and cancer diganostics" article on "Engineering and Technology" Website 
Form Of Engagement Activity A magazine, newsletter or online publication
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Disseminaiton of our reserarch among wide audience
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2016
URL https://eandt.theiet.org/content/articles/2016/12/x-ray-advance-offers-superior-bomb-detection-and-c...
 
Description "X-ray imaging technique could improve cancer treatment" article on Physics World 
Form Of Engagement Activity A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Proof of global interest in our research, dissemination among much wider audiences
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2016
URL http://physicsworld.com/cws/article/news/2016/dec/14/flash-physics-xavier-barcons-to-lead-eso-molecu...
 
Description "X-ray phase imaging: a new tool for biomedical imaging", UK-Canada Frontiers of Science 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact This was a talk targeted at a mix audience to promote collaborations between the UK and Canada
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2016
 
Description 150 magazines reporting our findings on "ehnahced detection of threat objects..." 
Form Of Engagement Activity A magazine, newsletter or online publication
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact Rather than trying to create one entry for every magazine that reported our work on threat detection, we have chosen the MIT Technology Review as an example of the many others that did (Independent, Evening Standard, Daily Telegraph, Daily Mail, Engineer, Yahoo, AOL, etc)
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2022
URL https://www.technologyreview.com/2022/09/09/1059146/a-new-x-ray-technique-for-detecting-explosives-c...
 
Description A comparison between coded-aperture and grating-based x-ray phase contrast methods: why the former are more suited for clinical translation, Dexela/Perkin Elmer London HQs, March 28 2013 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Local
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Invited seminar at Dexela-Perkin Elmer.

This created a strong link with a key industrial player in the field and led to the establishment of a collaboration.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2013
 
Description A talk or presentation - A talk or presentation - Lecture and detailed discussion on prospective use of technology in security scans with interested 3rd party (Rapiscan) 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Industry/Business
Results and Impact discussions on prospective implementation of technology for security scans
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2022
 
Description A talk or presentation - Lecture and detailed discussion on prospective use of technology in new areas of application with interested 3rd party (Boeing) through their "Distinguished Research and Scholar Seminar Series" 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Industry/Business
Results and Impact Engagement with new industrial actor
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2022
 
Description Academic PI Prof Olivo repeatedly interviewed with regards to our findings on "ehnahced detection of threat objects..." 
Form Of Engagement Activity A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact Rather than creating an eentry for every single interview, we are choosing the Daily Mail one (link below) as representative of the several interviews Prof Olivo gave to various outlets when our paper on "ehnahced detection of threat objects..." was published by Nature Communications
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2022
URL https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-11196563/Scientists-develop-new-X-ray-method-detect-...
 
Description An incoherent implementation of x-ray phase contrast imaging and tomography that maintains high sensitivity at low delivered doses WCMPE Toronto 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Postgraduate students
Results and Impact Dissemination to wide and multi-faceted audience of our latest results
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2015
 
Description Article on Institution of Mechanical Engineering website "Synchrotron X-ray technique used for bomb detection and breast cancer treatment" 
Form Of Engagement Activity A magazine, newsletter or online publication
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Wide dissemination of our research through popular focused website
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2016
URL https://www.imeche.org/news/news-article/synchrotron-x-ray-technique-used-for-bomb-detection-and-bre...
 
Description Article on Medical Physics Web "Dual approach enhances breast imaging" 
Form Of Engagement Activity A magazine, newsletter or online publication
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Medical Physics Web is widely read by professional practitioners - medical physicists, radiologists, radiographers, etc
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2014
URL http://medicalphysicsweb.org/cws/article/research/56451
 
Description Article on Medical Physics Web "Phase contrast imaging slashes mammogram dose" 
Form Of Engagement Activity A magazine, newsletter or online publication
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Medical Physics Web is widely read by professional practitioners - medical physicists, radiologists, radiographers, etc
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2016
URL http://medicalphysicsweb.org/cws/article/research/67238
 
Description Conventional vs. phase-based x-ray imaging: where does the transformative potential of the latter come from, and can we exploit it in clinical applications? Medical Image Computing Summer School (MedICSS 2015) 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Postgraduate students
Results and Impact Series of opportunities from new technologies presented to imaging scieintists of the future
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2015
 
Description Detecting explosives and weapons via high-throughput multi-modal x-ray imaging, IRC Showcase, The Royal Institution of Great Britain, London, UK, Sept 23 2014 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact This is a scheme aimed at a) making authorities/industry aware of new options in security b) select best option for further funding/promotion.

We have liaised with a number of authorities representative and are looking into actions to take our approaches into the translation stage.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2014
 
Description Detecting explosives and weapons via high-throughput multi-modal x-ray imaging, UK Security Expo 2017, Olympia, London, Nov 29-30 2017 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact A key event in security attended by most stakeholders, policymakers and industrial actors - hence a great opportunity to engage them in our research and the new possibilities it offers.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2017
 
Description Development of a 2D and 3D coded aperture x-ray phase contrast imaging system, State of the art and future challenges in x-ray computed tomography for mechanical behaviour assessment, Southampton, Jan 26 2012 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Other academic audiences (collaborators, peers etc.)
Results and Impact This was one of our early forays into 3D imaging (later significantly expanded) and this was a first contact with the key players in the UK in the area

Put us "on the map" and generated lots of contact and collaboration requests
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2012
 
Description EPSRC press release "New X-ray technique could improve bomb detection and breast cancer treatment" 
Form Of Engagement Activity A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact This press release resulted in a very significant increase in interest for our activities and was followed up by several interviews and picked up by technology websites/magazines worldwide
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2016
URL https://www.epsrc.ac.uk/newsevents/news/xraytechnique/
 
Description ESRF beamtime review panel 
Form Of Engagement Activity A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue
Part Of Official Scheme? Yes
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Other academic audiences (collaborators, peers etc.)
Results and Impact Member of the review panel for the selection of the approved experiments on the imaging beamlines (ID17 and ID19) . Awarding Body - ESRF, Name of Scheme - ESRF beamtime review panel

This effectively determined which experiments were carried out and which ones weren't on the basis of scientific excellence.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2012
 
Description Edge-illumination - state-of-the-art and future perspectives of an incoherent x-ray phase contrast imaging method, ANKA Seminar Series, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Postgraduate students
Results and Impact This was a dissemniation activity aimed particularly at students to raise awareness of our new technology at one of the leading international research institutes
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2016
 
Description Edge-illumination XPCi: an intrinsically incoherent phase contrast method, Coherent and incoherent x-ray imaging and tomography, EU "COST" Actions, La Sapienza, Rome, Italy, May 14-16 2014 
Form Of Engagement Activity A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Other academic audiences (collaborators, peers etc.)
Results and Impact This is a EU wide action aimed at streamlining x-ray imaging activities and methods, especially related to phase including in 3D

Our group is becoming a key player in this EU consortium, which is leading to regular invitations at related events and a number of new collaboration opportunities emerging as a consequence.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2014
 
Description Edge-illumination phase contrast imaging with conventional x-ray sources: simplified setup, low dose, high stability, acceptable exposure times, FDA Headquarters, Silver Spring, MD, 9 Dec 2013 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Invited seminar at the Food and Drug Administration Headquarters, Silver Spring, MD, 9 Dec 2013 (with joint FDA/NIH audience).

This is a key activity which led the FDA to think that our phase contrast method is the most likely to reach the clinical stage. It resulted in their desire to experiment with it (which could led to their official endorsement) and plans have been made to make some of our x-ray mask available to them so that they can commence investigations.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2013
 
Description Focus story on APS Physics "3D Images 10 Times Faster" 
Form Of Engagement Activity A magazine, newsletter or online publication
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Postgraduate students
Results and Impact One of our recent research results was picked up as a highlight by the widely read APS "News and Commentary" Website
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2017
URL https://physics.aps.org/articles/v10/48
 
Description How a structured scintillator might allow simpler clinical translation of x-ray phase contrast imaging for clinical use, Scintacor Headquarters, Cambridge, UK, 20 Dec 2017 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Industry/Business
Results and Impact This was a key opportunity to engage a new industrial actor with very relevant expertise in detector development in our research. Plans were made to jointly develop the "detector of choice" for our technology, which would significantly accelerate its translation into clinics and other application areas.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2017
 
Description How to achieve acceptable dose levels and exposure times in Phase contrast imaging with conventional x-ray sources, Creatv Microtech Headquarters, Potomac, MD, March 20 2013 (with NIH audience) 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Invited seminar at the Creatv Microtech Headquarters, Potomac, MD, with NIH audience.

seminar invited by industrial partner to facilitate identification of future exploitation routes; members of the NIH were invited along to explore the possibility of obtaining NIH funding for a joint US/UK project

It enabled a better understanding of our needs by our industrial partners leading to better products (x-ray masks) which are now being sold also to other groups; the presence of NIH delegates led to the invitation to submit a grant application.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2013
 
Description Interview by AZO Network 
Form Of Engagement Activity A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact This is a popular network across Europe and the US read primarily by professional practitioners but with wide diffusion among hospital environments
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2017
 
Description Interview by Progressive Digital Media 
Form Of Engagement Activity A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Interview for a wide network read by practitioners across clinical disciplines
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2017
 
Description Invited lecture and extended discussion with new sensor startup in Barcelona ("IMASENIC") 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Industry/Business
Results and Impact IMASENIC is a promising new sensor company developing detectors which could be a match both to our technology and our recently awarded "prosperity partnership" with Nikon. This event enabled us to plan the first steps towards a more extended collaboration.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2020
 
Description Lecture and detailed discussion on prospective use of technology in new areas of application with interested 3rd party (Metrix Ltd) 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Industry/Business
Results and Impact ongoing discussion on possible exploitation routes
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2022
 
Description Lecture and discussion to large international Homeland Security community through the "SWISS" online seminar series 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Making the wider security community aware of our achievements in that field
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2021
 
Description Lecture and discussion with prospective users of the National Research Facility on X-Ray CT 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Postgraduate students
Results and Impact An opportunity to explain prospective users of the National Research Facility on X-Ray CT that different ways to do x-ray imaging exist, and what advantages/additional application they could access by using them.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2022
 
Description Making the invisible visible - x-ray phase contrast imaging (Oxford) 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Postgraduate students
Results and Impact invited seminar for graduate and postgraduate students attended by industry
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2014
 
Description Member of the review panel for ESRF beamline ID17 
Form Of Engagement Activity A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue
Part Of Official Scheme? Yes
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Other academic audiences (collaborators, peers etc.)
Results and Impact Member of the review panel for ESRF beamline ID17 All ESRF beamlines are regularly assessed by an international expert panel to decide whether their activities should be reduced, maintained or expanded and to collect advice on future scientific directions.. Awarding Body - ESRF, Name of Scheme - Beamline Review Panels

Key decisions on staffing and future scientific directions of beamline ID17 were taken, and related actions then put in practice.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2011
 
Description Micro and Macroscopic implementations of edge-illumination x-ray phase contrast imaging for increased phase sensitivity, Visit by Zeiss Delegation, 7 Feb 2014 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Industrial presentation to Zeiss, who has an interest in exploiting our technology for their "XRadia" x-ray microscopy instruments. Both the CEO and the chief engineer of XRadia were present.

It created interest in Zeiss which is now considering implementing our methods in their instruments.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2014
 
Description Multi-modal phase-based x-ray imaging: detecting the undetectable, John Adams Institute for Accelerator Science, University of Oxford 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Postgraduate students
Results and Impact Again an opportunity to engage studnets and a different audience, including laying down plans to combine our imaging methods with new x-ray sources
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2015
 
Description New Zeff/SCATTeff from 8-dimensional data acquired in a single scan, UK Security Expo 2017, Olympia, London, Nov 29-30 2017 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact A key event in security attended by most stakeholders, policymakers and industrial actors - hence a great opportunity to engage them in our research and the new possibilities it offers.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2017
 
Description Organisation of a stand at the "Made@UCL" open day 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact We set up a stand with several displays and props to explain why our research is revolutionising x-rays 124 years after their discovery, and to present the applications of our technology
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2019
 
Description PACCS Blog "Phase-based x-ray detection of threat objects - a new paradigm in security inspections?" 
Form Of Engagement Activity Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Policymakers/politicians
Results and Impact This was an invitation to write a blog on our new techology for the Partnership for Conflict, Crime & Security Research
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2016
URL http://www.paccsresearch.org.uk/blog/phase-based-x-ray-detection-threat-objects-new-paradigm-securit...
 
Description PACCS Case Study "Transformational work on Phase-based x-ray detection" 
Form Of Engagement Activity A magazine, newsletter or online publication
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Policymakers/politicians
Results and Impact As well as the blog, PACSS demonstrated continued interest by asking for a Case Study description
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2016
URL http://www.paccsresearch.org.uk/delivering-impact/case-studies/transformational-work-phase-based-x-r...
 
Description Phase contrast imaging and tomography with hard x-rays - prospective applications to various areas including electrochemical devices, STFC Global Challenge Network in Batteries and Electrochemical Energy Devices 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Postgraduate students
Results and Impact An opportunity to reach out to a completely different audience hopefully opening new prospectives for application
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2015
 
Description Phase contrast: a different approach to the use of x-ray imaging for biomedical applications, CMM Seminar Series, Faculty of Biomedical Sciences, University of Bristol, UK 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Postgraduate students
Results and Impact This was a dissemination activity aimed particularly at students to raise awareness of our new technology with a completely different discipline to promote interdisciplinary collaboration
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2016
 
Description Portable x-ray phase contrast tomography (a.k.a. "incoherent approaches to x-ray phase contrast imaging with conventional x-ray sources"), Varenna 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Postgraduate students
Results and Impact Presentation to difference audience e.g. users of neutron sources to spawn new areas of collaboration
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2015
 
Description Press release on Cycloidal Computed Tomography 
Form Of Engagement Activity A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Industry/Business
Results and Impact UCL issued a press release on our new method when this was published, and this has been rapidly picked up by a large number of outlets worldwide, including:

https://physicstoday.scitation.org/do/10.1063/PT.6.1.20200730a/full/

https://physicsworld.com/a/cycloidal-ct-boosts-image-quality-while-reducing-radiation-dose/

https://www.news-medical.net/news/20200724/Novel-CT-scan-method-reduces-radiation-exposure.aspx

https://www.medimaging.net/general-imaging/articles/294783761/innovative-ct-scan-technique-reduces-radiation-exposure.html

https://medicaldialogues.in/radiology/news/new-ct-scan-technique-may-help-lower-radiation-exposure-67943

https://www.wbmirror.com/2020/07/24/new-ct-scan-method-lowers-radiation-exposure/

https://www.theimagingwire.com/2020/07/27/pocus-alternative-cv19-pxs-pain-change/


https://www.itnonline.com/content/new-ct-scan-method-lowers-radiation-exposure


https://www.diagnosticimaging.com/view/new-ct-method-could-lower-radiation-exposure

https://www.auntminnieeurope.com/index.aspx?sec=ser?=def&pag=dis&ItemID=619072


https://www.healthimaging.com/topics/diagnostic-imaging/ct-slashes-radiation-retaining-image-quality?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=hi_diagnostic_imaging

https://www.plexusmd.com/md/post/cycloidal-computed-tomography-a-novel/56502

http://colgatephys111.blogspot.com/2020/11/dr-charlotte-hagen.html

https://www.mazree.com/article/the-most-innovative-medical-equipment-in-2020/74

https://qsstudy.com/technology/new-ct-scan-technique-reduces-radiation-exposure

https://www.dotmed.com/news/story/52036
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2020
URL https://www.ucl.ac.uk/news/2020/jul/new-ct-scan-method-lowers-radiation-exposure
 
Description Press release on our innovative method for intra-operative specimen imaging 
Form Of Engagement Activity A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Industry/Business
Results and Impact Our work on intra-operative specimen imaging was particuarly successful and UCL decided to run a press released when the first paper on this work was published. Although the work itself has been mostly funded by the Wellcome Trust, the seeds of the technology were developed through EPSRC funding, and its future directions are explored as part of our Prosperity Partnership with Nikon (which was also our partner in the Wellcome Trust grant). A partial list of media outlets which have run pieces on our technology includes:

https://www.caperay.com/blog/index.php/2021/phase-contrast-imaging-and-breast-surgery/

https://www.diagnosticimaging.com/view/new-x-ray-scanner-could-reduce-repeat-breast-conserving-operations


https://www.theengineer.co.uk/new-x-ray-scanner-could-improve-breast-cancer-surgery/


https://medicalxpress.com/news/2021-02-advances-x-ray-imaging-patients-breast.html

https://www.itnonline.com/content/advances-x-ray-imaging-can-help-patients-breast-cancer

https://eandt.theiet.org/content/articles/2021/02/x-ray-scanner-could-improve-breast-cancer-surgery/.

https://www.theimagingwire.com/2021/02/22/ai-guided-milestone-watson-options-the-unmatched/

https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2021-02/ucl-aix021721.php


https://scienmag.com/advances-in-x-ray-imaging-can-help-patients-with-breast-cancer/

https://infosurhoy.com/health/advances-in-x-ray-imaging-can-help-patients-with-breast-cancer.html
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2021
URL https://www.ucl.ac.uk/news/2021/feb/advances-x-ray-imaging-can-help-patients-breast-cancer
 
Description Public lecture 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact This was part of the "UCL Minds Lunch Hour Lectures" series, aimed at presenting key UCL research to the general public
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2019
URL https://www.ucl.ac.uk/events/events/2019/oct/detecting-undetectable-transforming-use-x-rays-124-year...
 
Description Removing the roadblocks to clinical translation of x-ray phase contrast imaging using the edge-illumination method, Mini-symposium on "Frontiers in Phase Contrast X-ray imaging for Biomedical Application 
Form Of Engagement Activity A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact initial plans for roadmap for translation of x-ray phase contrast imaging
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2015
 
Description Seeing invisible things (possibly while in full possession of your mental capacities): x-ray phase-contrast imaging, Kings College London, Centre for Neuroimaging Science, Nov 20 2012 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Local
Primary Audience Other academic audiences (collaborators, peers etc.)
Results and Impact Invited seminar at the , Centre for Neuroimaging Science,Kings College London, Nov 20 2013.

INvited seminar aimed at establishing new collaborations between the two Institutes

It started a new collaboration expected to bear fruits in the near future
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2012
 
Description Seeing invisible things with X-Rays, "Alumnorum Colloquia" series, Department of Physics, University of Trieste 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Undergraduate students
Results and Impact Directly aimed at inspiring undergrad students at my univerity of origin
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2015
 
Description Seminar ("Current state-of-the-art and applications of edge-illumination x-ray phase contrast imaging") followed by discussion at the Nikon, Yokohama Plant, Yokohama city, Kanagawa, Japan Oct 25 2019 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Industry/Business
Results and Impact While in recent year we have been mostly engaging with the UK branch of Nikon, it is important to involve the Japanese Headquarters in view of future activity scale up - this seminar/discussion has achieved exactly that.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2019
 
Description Siemens press release "The New X-Ray Revolution" 
Form Of Engagement Activity A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Industry/Business
Results and Impact Recognition by leading healthcare company of the prospective importance of our developments
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2015
URL https://www.siemens.com/innovation/en/home/pictures-of-the-future/health-and-well-being/medical-imag...
 
Description State-of-the-art and future perspectives of a non-interferometric incoherent x-ray phase contrast imaging method, SFB Seminar Series, Faculty of Physics, Georg-August-Universitat Gottingen, Germany 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Postgraduate students
Results and Impact This was a dissemination activity aimed particularly at students to raise awareness of our new technology at one of the leading international universities
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2016
 
Description Status and perspectives of edge-illumination x-ray phase contrast imaging, Nikon Metrology UK Headquarters, Tring, Herts 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Industry/Business
Results and Impact Aimed at industry only (Nikon UK and Nikon Japan, with executive members present explicitly for this) aimed at laying down joint exploitation plans
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2016
 
Description Talk at "Tomography for Scientific Advancement" (ToScA2016), Bath, UK, Sept 6-7 2016 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact This is an event aimed at a wide audience which includes museums and many actors from the cultural heritage sector.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2016
 
Description Talk at Concealed Explosives Detection Workshop, Cambridge, UK, Sept 19-23 2016 
Form Of Engagement Activity A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact This has repleaced the old "Gordon meeting" on detecting illicit substances and is effectively the key forum where technology for security is discussed - including with industry and Government representatives.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2016
 
Description Talk at RAEng's YRFM (Young Researchers' Futures Meeting) 2016 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Supporters
Results and Impact These are meetings regularly arranged by the RAEng to create networks of collaboration among promising young engineering researchers and putting them in touch with funders etc
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2016
 
Description Talk at the 16th Annual Meeting of the Tissue and Cell Engineering Society (TCES), London (UK), 4-6 July 2016 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact This was a presentation to a different audience (tissue engineering and regenerative medicine) to raise awareness on the potential of our methods and promote interdisciplinary research.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2016
 
Description The UCL X-Ray Phase Contrast Imaging Method: enhanced sensitivity at synchrotrons and easier translation to conventional sources, UCL Centre for Neuroimaging Techniques, Institute of Neurology, 7 Mar 2013 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Local
Primary Audience Other academic audiences (collaborators, peers etc.)
Results and Impact Invited seminar at the UCL Centre for Neuroimaging Techniques, Institute of Neurology, 7 Mar 2013.

Invited seminar to establish new collaborations between the two Faculties

Discussions were initiated on possible collaborations.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2013
 
Description The UCL method for phase contrast imaging with conventional x-ray sources: simplified setup, low dose, high stability, acceptable exposure times, Visit from SIEMENS delegation, UCL, Apr 23 2013 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Presentation to Siemens.

This led Siemens Corporate Research to consider our phase contrast method as the most likely candidate for clinical translation. It led to long term partnership plans, their funding of a proof-of-concept study, co-funding of a PhD studentship and participation in a large EU submission.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2013
 
Description Towards the clinical translation of x-ray phase contrast imaging - UKRC 2016 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Reaching out to radiologists and radiographers to raise awareness on new technological opportunities
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2016
 
Description Towards the translation of x-ray phase contrast imaging into clinical applications, IPEM 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Presentation of new imaging modality to medical physicists with an eye on future clinical use
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2015
 
Description Translating edge-illumination based x-ray phase contrast imaging into in vivo clinical applications, Siemens 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Industry/Business
Results and Impact Discussion with Industry to develop commercial soultions based around our methods
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2014,2015
 
Description Translating edge-illumination based x-ray phase contrast imaging into mammography and other applications, GE 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Industry/Business
Results and Impact A presentation to industry to develop joint commercial solutions
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2015
 
Description UCL Physics and Engineering in Medicine Podcast "How to advance x-ray imaging, seeing the unseen" 
Form Of Engagement Activity Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Undergraduate students
Results and Impact A blog explaining teh developed technology and its applications in lay terms
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2020
URL https://soundcloud.com/user-857709813/5-how-to-advance-x-ray-imaging-seeing-the-unseen
 
Description Web article on Compamed "New X-ray technique could improve breast cancer treatment" 
Form Of Engagement Activity A magazine, newsletter or online publication
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Industry/Business
Results and Impact Wide dissemination of our research through a website widely read by medical industry & practitioners
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2016
URL http://www.compamed-tradefair.com/cgi-bin/md_compamed/lib/pub/tt.cgi/New_X-ray_technique_could_impro...
 
Description Web article on Mediplacement "New X-ray technique could have significant benefits for breast cancer patients" 
Form Of Engagement Activity A magazine, newsletter or online publication
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Wide dissemination of our research through website dedicated to innovation in medicine
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2016
URL http://www.mediplacements.com/article-801829993-new_x_ray_technique_could_have.html
 
Description Web asrticle on Science World Report "Breast Cancer Treatment And Bomb Detection Can Now Be Done Using X-Rays" 
Form Of Engagement Activity A magazine, newsletter or online publication
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Wide dissemination of our research through popular science website
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2016
URL http://www.scienceworldreport.com/articles/54573/20161214/breast-cancer-treatment-bomb-detection-usi...
 
Description Why could the edge-illumination/coded-aperture x-ray phase contrast imaging method allow for an easier translation into medical and other applications?, Faculty of Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Canada, May 9 2013 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Undergraduate students
Results and Impact Invited seminar at the Faculty of Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Canada, May 2013.

This led the Saskatchewan group to the decision to use our phase contrast method and kickstarted a very promising collaboration which has already led to two of their scientists spending time in our labs, one through a successful joint application for a Wellcome-Burroghs travel grant.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2013
 
Description X-ray phase contrast imaging (XPCI) and its potential applications in cancer research - UCL Cancer Institute 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Postgraduate students
Results and Impact Reachging out to undergrad and postgrad students + practitioners in a different discipline to extend reach
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2016
 
Description X-ray phase contrast imaging (XPCI) for small animal CT based on edge-illumination/coded aperture, National Cancer Institute, Frederick, MD, Aug 4 2014 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact This was a talk delivered by one of our key collaborators, Cha-Mei Tang CEO of Creatv Microtech, to a key cancer lab in the US to broker a new collaboration which we expect could be very productive.

New important collaboration created and joint NIH grant application submitted.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2014
 
Description X-ray phase contrast imaging - detecting the undetectable, Biological and Soft System Sector, Cavendish Laboratory, Cambridge University Nov 8th 2013 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Participants in your research and patient groups
Results and Impact Invited seminar at the Biological and Soft System Sector, Cavendish Laboratory, Cambridge University Nov 8th 2013.

It led to new collaboration opportunities and a consultancy for a UK company active in the field of security.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2013
 
Description press release on ehnanced detection of threat materials using phase-based x-ray imaging 
Form Of Engagement Activity A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Media (as a channel to the public)
Results and Impact UCL run a press release on our Nature Communication paper on ehnanced detection of threat object using phase-based x-ray imaging. Even before this was issued, the Academic PI Prof A Olivo had been interviewed by a number of media outlets, and several media worldwide were starting to report the story. Through our limited ability to track coverage we have seen that well over 150 news outlet worldwide had picked up this story, including major one such as the Observer, the Daily Telegraph and the Daily Mail. It was the 3rd most reported article by Nature Communications for several weeks and Springer Nature posted a separate press release on it to highlight this.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2022
URL https://www.ucl.ac.uk/news/2022/sep/explosives-detection-improved-new-x-ray-technique