a novel phase contrast technique with the potential of revolutionizing x-ray imaging applications in medicine, biology, industry and security
Lead Research Organisation:
University College London
Department Name: Medical Physics and Biomedical Eng
Abstract
This project aims at transferring an established synchrotron radiation (SR) technique with extremely high potential, X-ray phase contrast imaging (XPCI), into its practical application through the full development of a novel method devised by the fellow.Over the recent years, SR studies have demonstrated that XPCI could substantially change the face of X-ray imaging, as it would provide dramatic image improvements in fields as diverse as medicine, industry, security, scientific research and others.Early diagnosis of breast tumours, detection of faint lung lesions in planar images instead of CT scans, imaging of blood vessels without contrast agents, detection of microfractures and dilamination in composite materials are just a few examples of results obtained through SR XPCI which are currently not accessible by means of conventional x-ray imaging techniques.The problem so far is that XPCI was considered to be restricted to SR environments, which prevented its diffusion despite the impressive potentials. All XPCI techniques devised so far suffer when implemented with conventional sources, making its practical use substantially impossible.The applicant has recently devised a novel XPCI technique, based on the use of coded apertures, which solves most limitations of previous approaches. Proof-of-concept experiments have demonstrated beyond doubt that this new technique can provide results comparable to those obtained with SR while making use of diverging, polychromatic beams generated by conventional sources currently available off the shelf. As a consequence, this approach has the concrete potential to take XPCI out of SR environments and into its practical application for the first time. This would have an enormous impact both from the economic (the x-ray imaging market was estimated to be over 10B Euros already in 2005 - S. Rusckowski, CEO imaging systems, Philips) and the social point of view, as the general public would benefit from improved healthcare and security.The present project aims at achieving this important result through the development of the new XPCI technique. At the same time, it would target relevant application fields (breast imaging, plus others to be agreed with the end-users), and quantitatively assess the advantages that the new technique would bring in each of them.To achieve these objectives, the new method would be fully modelled by expanding simulation tools developed by the fellow during the proof-of-concept work. These models would be experimentally validated to guarantee reliability, and the output used to design an imaging prototype. On the basis of the resources available at the proposed host institution (two extra long optical tables plus two high-powered x-ray sources with different targets, and some detector prototypes), it would actually be possible to realize two separate prototypes, to target a wider range of applications. This imaging prototype(s) would then be thoroughly evaluated, and eventually used to image typical samples from the targeted applications. The analysis of these images, alongside the comparison with images of the same samples obtained with conventional systems, would allow the quantitative assessment of the advantages of the new technique on the targeted applications. In order to perform all tasks required by the above plan, the collaboration of ten partners from relevant fields have been sought. The appropriate input from physicians (two radiologists and a pathologist), detector developers (RAL, MI3), scientists with unique expertise in the field (ELETTRA, where the only in vivo station for mammography with SR XPCI has been built), and industrial companies active in related fields (Canon, e2v, X-Tek, 3DX-ray) has been secured and is documented through letters of support. To provide training to young scientist on the new topic and help the fellow on the everyday running of the project, the team would be completed by a PDRA and a PhD student.
Organisations
- University College London (Lead Research Organisation)
- IMASENIC Advanced Imaging S.L. (Collaboration)
- Columbia University (Collaboration)
- MicroWorks (Collaboration)
- Creatv MicroTech (Collaboration)
- CMP Information (Collaboration)
- University of Kyoto (Collaboration)
- Quantum Detectors (Collaboration)
- QUEEN MARY UNIVERSITY OF LONDON (Collaboration)
- Elettra Sincrotrone Trieste (Collaboration, Project Partner)
- Heriot-Watt University (Collaboration)
- Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich (LMU Munich) (Collaboration)
- Direct Conversion AB (Collaboration)
- University of Western Australia (Collaboration)
- Scintacor (Collaboration)
- IMPERIAL COLLEGE LONDON (Collaboration)
- Lackland Independent School District (Collaboration)
- UNIVERSITY OF OXFORD (Collaboration)
- Dexela (Collaboration)
- Los Alamos National Laboratory (Collaboration)
- UNIVERSITY OF DUNDEE (Collaboration)
- Barts Health NHS Trust (Project Partner)
- Science and Technology Facilities Council (Project Partner)
- Teledyne e2v (United Kingdom) (Project Partner)
- University of Sheffield (Project Partner)
- Guy's Hospital (Project Partner)
- 3DX-Ray (United Kingdom) (Project Partner)
- Nikon (United Kingdom) (Project Partner)
- Queen Mary University of London (Project Partner)
- Canon (United Kingdom) (Project Partner)
People |
ORCID iD |
Alessandro Olivo (Principal Investigator) |
Publications
Munro P
(2012)
"Edge illumination" in X-ray Phase Contrast Imaging
Olivo A
(2014)
'Taking X-ray phase contrast imaging into mainstream applications' and its satellite workshop 'Real and reciprocal space X-ray imaging'.
in Philosophical transactions. Series A, Mathematical, physical, and engineering sciences
Olivo A
(2011)
A coded-aperture based method allowing non-interferometric phase contrast imaging with incoherent X-ray sources
in Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section A: Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment
HAGEN C
(2014)
A LABORATORY-BASED X-RAY PHASE CONTRAST IMAGING SCANNER WITH APPLICATIONS IN BIOMEDICAL AND NON-MEDICAL DISCIPLINES
in International Journal of Modern Physics: Conference Series
Ignatyev K
(2011)
A New Generation of X-ray Baggage Scanners Based on a Different Physical Principle.
in Materials (Basel, Switzerland)
Munro PR
(2013)
A quantitative, non-interferometric X-ray phase contrast imaging technique.
in Optics express
Munro PR
(2013)
A simplified approach to quantitative coded aperture X-ray phase imaging.
in Optics express
Olivo A
(2012)
Amplification of the phase contrast signal at very high x-ray energies
in Optics Letters
Endrizzi M
(2013)
Applications of a non-interferometric x-ray phase contrast imaging method with both synchrotron and conventional sources
in Journal of Instrumentation
Zin H
(2010)
Characterisation of regional variations in a stitched CMOS active pixel sensor
in Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section A: Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment
Description | This project was aimed at building and evaluating an imaging prototype based on a new x-ray imaging technique invented by the PI. The approach is revolutionary as it uses the phase of x-rays to generate image contrast rather than attenuation, which is the standard approach used for over a century i.e. practically since Roentgen's discovery of x-rays. The phase contrast prototype was designed and built, and has been evaluated against 1) imaging of threat objects in baggage scanning 2) imaging of defects in composite materials 3) imaging of damage in rat cartilage 4) imaging of tumours in breast tissue. In all the above applications, substantially improved image quality over conventional methods was demonstrated; in particular, detection of relevant details missed by conventional methods was demonstrated in ALL tested areas. Results in all these areas have been published. In addition, the project has produced a corpus of literature on the new imaging method and its implementations (see outcomes). More recently, thanks also to the support of an additional EPSRC grant (EP/L001381/1) aimed at extending the basic work carried out during the fellowship, proof-of-concept was obtained that the method can work in 3D (CT) implementations: three full journals and a proceeding paper have already been published, and one of these appeared on the cover of Medical Physics. Implementation of quasi-3D methods (tomosynthesis), which are steadily acquiring a growing importance in medical imaging, has also been demonstrated, and a paper has been published in Physics in Medicine and Biology. 7 years on, we can safely say this research has been very successful, having lead to a significant expansion of the group and having made the group internationally leading. Most importantly, industry is now engaged, the first pre-commercial prototypes have been built, and exploitation plans are being developed. |
Exploitation Route | Ultimately we hope the technology will be deployed in hospitals, clinics, industrial establishment, customs, etc worldwide. An additional area of application is cultural heritage, which we have only recently started to explore. An evaluation project is currently underway with a large company aimed at exploiting the technology in industrial inspections, NDT and possibly security scanning. Negotiations are underway with a number of companies to pursue commercialization in medical applications - very recent news just before the end of the grant (Dec 2013) is that we have been sent a draft contract from a major medical imaging company for an evaluation project aimed at using the technology in healthcare. Moreover, this area of research has recently been at the basis of two international conferences sponsored by the Royal Society (see http://royalsociety.org/events/2013/x-ray-phase-contrast/ and http://royalsociety.org/events/2013/xray-imaging-satellite/), heavily attended by industry. |
Sectors | Aerospace Defence and Marine Agriculture Food and Drink Electronics Energy Healthcare Manufacturing including Industrial Biotechology Pharmaceuticals and Medical Biotechnology Security and Diplomacy Transport |
URL | https://www.ucl.ac.uk/medical-physics-biomedical-engineering/research/research-groups/advanced-x-ray-imaging-group-axim |
Description | At the end of this fellowship, the technology was still in its infancy, however it has been further developed through other grants (including those in this same submission) and is now starting to be picked up and developed by industry. 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). Adding on to the above, the first pre-commercial prototypes have been built with Nikon Metrology UK (now called "Nikon X-Tek Systems"), their agreement with XPCI Technology Ltd has been finalised, and we are developing pre-clinical applications with Perkin Elmer. |
First Year Of Impact | 2019 |
Sector | Electronics,Energy,Healthcare,Manufacturing, including Industrial Biotechology,Culture, Heritage, Museums and Collections,Transport |
Impact Types | Cultural |
Description | Achieving a step change in osteoarthritis research through innovative imaging tools |
Amount | £10,000 (GBP) |
Organisation | University College London |
Sector | Academic/University |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 08/2011 |
End | 12/2011 |
Description | Creativity at Home grant |
Amount | £20,000 (GBP) |
Funding ID | bolted on to the present grant (EP/G004250/1) |
Organisation | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 09/2012 |
End | 12/2013 |
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 | 08/2018 |
End | 07/2020 |
Description | Dynamic multi-modal x-ray imaging (DM-MX) |
Amount | € 100,000 (EUR) |
Funding ID | ATTRACT 13 |
Organisation | European Union |
Sector | Public |
Country | European Union (EU) |
Start | 04/2019 |
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 | 07/2017 |
End | 01/2021 |
Description | EXPITIS - Edge illumination X-ray phase contrast imaging with equiangular time-delay integration scanning |
Amount | € 100,000 (EUR) |
Funding ID | ATTRACT 424 |
Organisation | European Union |
Sector | Public |
Country | European Union (EU) |
Start | 04/2019 |
End | 07/2020 |
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 | 03/2015 |
End | 03/2016 |
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 | ML-CYCLO-CT - Combining cycloidal computed tomography with machine learning: a mechanism to disrupt the costly relationship between spatial resolution and radiation dose |
Amount | € 100,000 (EUR) |
Funding ID | ATTRACT 87 |
Organisation | European Union |
Sector | Public |
Country | European Union (EU) |
Start | 04/2019 |
End | 07/2020 |
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 | 09/2019 |
End | 09/2029 |
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 | 02/2020 |
End | 11/2025 |
Description | Phase modulation technology for X-ray imaging |
Amount | £1,436,518 (GBP) |
Funding ID | EP/I022562/1 |
Organisation | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 08/2011 |
End | 08/2016 |
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 | 06/2013 |
End | 06/2015 |
Description | Transforming the use of x-rays in science and society |
Amount | £1,049,890 (GBP) |
Funding ID | EP/I021884/1 |
Organisation | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 11/2011 |
End | 10/2016 |
Description | XCOL: low-cost large area X-ray colour image sensors |
Amount | € 100,000 (EUR) |
Funding ID | ATTRACT 247 |
Organisation | European Union |
Sector | Public |
Country | European Union (EU) |
Start | 04/2019 |
End | 07/2020 |
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 | 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 | 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 | 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 | 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 | 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 | 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 | 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 | 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 | 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 | 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 | 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 | 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 | 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 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 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 |
Title | PHASE CONTRAST IMAGING |
Description | Phase contrast imaging is achieved using a sample mask 8 and a detector mask (6). X- rays emitted from x-ray source (2) are formed into individual beams (16) by sample mask which pass through sample (14) and arrive at individual pixels (12) of the detector (4) through detector mask (6). The individual x-ray beams are arranged to hit the pixel edge (20) of individual rows of pixels, individual columns of pixels or individual pixels. Small deviations ? in the individual beams (16) cause a significant increase or decrease in the signal hitting the exposed area (22) of the pixel resulting in a significant phase contrast signal. |
IP Reference | WO2008029107 |
Protection | Patent granted |
Year Protection Granted | 2008 |
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 | 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 | ray-tracing based phase contrast imaging simulator |
Description | This is a software that can simulate phase contrast images based on an approximated ray-tracing approach. It is not as as the one based on the Fresnel/Kirchoff diffraction integral approach, but is faster. It was also demonstrated to produce the same results under relaxed (e.g. lab-based) 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 | 2010 |
Impact | It allows fast and reliable simulation of phase contrast images. Despite to being a recent development, the University of Trieste is using it, and we use it as a training tool for students at UCL. We've also pioneered remote use by our distance learning MSc students. |
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 | |
Year Established | 2017 |
Impact | none yet - too recent creation |
Description | "Practical x-ray phase contrast imaging", KTN workshop on Advanced Sensing for Biosciences and Healthcare, Ambassador Hotel, London, 16 Mar 2016 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
Results and Impact | I vas invited to speak at one of the regular events the Knowledge Transfer Network organises to connect researchers, industry and policymakers. This created a series of new contacts and requests for clarification/engagement. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
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 | 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 | 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 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 Scientific American "Can You See Me Now? New X-Ray System Reveals Fine Detail" |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A magazine, newsletter or online publication |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
Results and Impact | Scientific American is one of the most widely read dissemination journals and this article prompted a lot of contacts |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2011 |
URL | https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/can-you-see-me-now-sept-11 |
Description | Can the use of x-rays be transformed 120 years after their discovery? X-ray phase contrast imaging and its translation towards clinical and other applications, Medical Image Computing Summer School (MedICSS 2016) |
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 | 2016 |
Description | Coded-aperture X-ray phase contrast imaging: a non-interferometric method suitable for use with synchrotron radiation and conventional sources, Workshop on phase modulation methods, Harwell Research Complex, Didcot, UK, June 23 2011 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Local |
Primary Audience | Other academic audiences (collaborators, peers etc.) |
Results and Impact | This was attended by a group of researchers based at the Harwell Campus with an interest in phase-based x-ray imaging. This further established our presence and collaborations at Harwell. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2011 |
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 | 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 | 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 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 | 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 | Invited experimental visit and seminar (as part of their "Physics/Theory Colloquium Series") at the Los Alamos National Labs (New Mexico, USA) |
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 | The Los Alamos National Labs have identified our technology as possibly key to their future studies, and have invited myself and Dr Marco Endrizzi over to hold estensive discussions, run a joint experiment, and deliver a joint lecture to a wider audience. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
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 | Invited lecture at the official launch of Direct Conversion AIC, Munich, Germany, Jul 5-6 2019 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
Results and Impact | This invitation confirms Direct Conversion's esteem and desire to collaborate with us. They have previously provided us with novel detector technology, notably for our security inspection activities, and have offered access to additional detection technology to pursue more applications and expand/strengthen our collaboration. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
Description | Invited presentation at the 2019 edition of the "Medical Imaging Convention", Birmingham Mar 26-27 2019 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | This is the largest Medical Imaging Convention in the UK and the purpose was to reach out to a wide audience of medical practitioners to make them aware of our technology, its potential and its applications. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
URL | https://www.imagingconvention.com |
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 | 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 | 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 | 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 mammography: earlier threat detection, Joint STFC Futures and BIR Cancer Care Workshop, RAL, Harwell, Oxfordshire, UK Oct 5-6 2011 |
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 | Presentation at Joint STFC Futures & BIR Cancer Care Workshop, RAL, Harwell, Oxfordshire, UK Oct 5-6 2011. It has generated new contacts and kickstarted new collaborations as well as led to the award of a PhD studentship. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2011 |
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 | 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 | 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 | 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 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 | Transforming the use of x-rays in science and society, Set for Britain 2011, The House of Commons, London, UK, Mar 14 2011 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
Results and Impact | selection for presentation at "Set for Britain 2011", The House of Commons, London, UK, Mar 14 2011. I have created contacts with MPs - some last to this day. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2011 |
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 | 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 - 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 | X-ray phase contrast imaging for enhanced threat detection, RCUK Global Uncertainties Programme Strategic Plan Consultation, Park Crescent Conference Centre, London, Jan 31 2011 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
Part Of Official Scheme? | Yes |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Other academic audiences (collaborators, peers etc.) |
Results and Impact | Our imaging methods were "put on the horizon" of research in security and discussed with a number of other actors in the field, including other researchers, funders, politicians, authorities etc. It has significantly strengthened my connections with the Global Uncertainties program which I still interact with support, created new scientific contacts aimed at collaborations as well as new industrial contacts. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2011 |
Description | XPCI: X-Ray Phase Contrast Imaging, X-rays, a tool for science and technology: interaction with matter, detection techniques, applications. Politecnico di Milano, Italy, Feb 20-21 2017 |
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 part of a series of events for the Doctoral School of the Milan Polytechnic, which was also attended by some undergrads and some industrialists - a unique chance to make practicing and future scientists aware of the wen technological options opened by our research. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
Description | opportunities for CMOS detectors in medical imaging: Leading edge requirements for diagnostic imaging, Milton Hill House, Steventon, August 20th 2009 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
Part Of Official Scheme? | Yes |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Other academic audiences (collaborators, peers etc.) |
Results and Impact | I provided basic info on the opportunities for CMOS sensor in medical imaging and discussed related requirements. STFC took note and structured their funding strategy accordingly. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2009 |