Development of a clinical 3D printing based patient-specific MRT dosimetry system

Lead Research Organisation: University of Manchester
Department Name: Physics and Astronomy

Abstract

Molecular Radiotherapy (MRT) is a relatively common procedure in counties with developed healthcare systems. In this procedure, a labelled radioisotope is administered to the body in order to irradiate and kill tumour cells whilst sparing the surrounding healthy organ tissue. In the UK alone, there are some 200 departments performing over 11000 MRTs annually and ~200,000 therapies in some 28 EU countries.

In a recent development towards personalised healthcare, a new EU directive 2013/59 was introduced which requires that all Member states performing any form of radiotherapeutics (including MRT) must provide dosimetry treatment planning for each patient by 6th February 2018. Although this may sound like an obvious situation, MRT has in fact been used clinically for around 75 years with no fully established dosimetry practice for calculating the absorbed dose delivered to tumour targets or to organs at risk. Even though the general steps have been agreed, there still exists a wide variation in the current acquisition, quality and treatment of images used to determine dose. As a result, treatment protocols have often evolved locally, based on experience with a relatively small numbers of patients. Although such patients would all have received similar administered activities, the actual dose received to particular organs could have large variations.

As a consequence of the complexities involved, the application of radionuclide dosimetry has been restricted to those academic groups with the facilities to develop in-house techniques. Very few therapy centres currently can validate dose calculations to a known level of accuracy and only a few academic therapy centres can perform MRT Monte Carlo (MC) calculations. Our group, established between The University of Manchester and The Christie, has developed the ability to deliver this within a very large MRT practice. We were recently selected to lead the EU work on validating dose calculations from simulated patient phantoms and physical 3D printed phantoms in the EMPIR MRTDosimetry project (2016-19). The project will provide a standardised European framework for clinical implementation of MRT dose planning. In our approach, developed with an STFC Mini-IPS grant, 3D-printed patient analogues (phantoms) are constructed based on patient CT images. This novel technique has clear potential to provide the foundation of a clinical service to provide a basis for improved activity quantification to all clinical centres and MRT patients in the UK.

We are uniquely positioned to deliver this work, having access to a large data base of MRT patient data at The Christie. Working with these data, we can provide the foundation for establishing a future national clinical service. The Christie has the experience in both MRT dosimetry research and in providing training and support for a national clinical service (PET/CT) required to provide a MRT dosimetry service. In addition our collaboration has strong links with industry, in particular Hermes Medical Solutions Ltd, a leading provider of nuclear medicine workstation software. By developing a comprehensive validation methodology for clinical dosimetry systems, and thereby demonstrating that the HERMES dosimetry system meets this standard, our collaboration will be able to provide a de-facto validation standard for clinical dosimetry systems and a market leading package. These links provide a pathway to distribute the techniques to the wider EU and international nuclear medicine market. In turn, this improves patient outcomes by allowing modification of therapy based on disease response and also benefits the healthcare provider by maximising outcome for the same or reduced resource.

Publications

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Price E (2019) Improving molecular radiotherapy dosimetry using anthropomorphic calibration. in Physica medica : PM : an international journal devoted to the applications of physics to medicine and biology : official journal of the Italian Association of Biomedical Physics (AIFB)

 
Title Mediso mechanical model 
Description For the intention of aiding outreach, the construction of a mechanical model was undertaken - the funds to do this awarded to Sophia Pells (£500), as the winner of the "I'm a scientist, get me out of here" national competition. The model was based on STLs of the Mediso AnyScan SPECT/CT system, which were modified and 3D printed at UoM. The three SPECT heads rotate by way of a stepper motor, controlled by a teensy microcontroller, programmed by the summer student Andrea Trevino Dominguez. A phantom SPECT scan with 4 organs and a hepatic lesion ("patient G") was divided into still frames from a 360 rotation. These frames were staggered by 120 degrees, and displayed on a 3x1 matrix on an LCD display, powered by Arch linux on a Raspberry Pi Zero. As the model rotates to scan around the small scale anatomical patient, each of the 3 projections updates to reflect the projection seen by each SPECT head. 
Type Of Art Artefact (including digital) 
Year Produced 2019 
Impact The model has been very popular in every outreach occasion. Interest in the mechanics was particularly keen, which lead to a modification to display the raspberry pi and teensy controller via a perspex viewing panel. 
 
Description A method has been developed in Molecular Radiotherapy which will ultimately lead to more patient-specific treatment planning.
Exploitation Route This procedure, once finalised would be available to be used by clinicians in the treatment of tumours in molecular radiotherapy.
Sectors Healthcare

 
Description Influenced methods of personalised dosimetry for single photon emission computed tomography (spect).
Geographic Reach Local/Municipal/Regional 
Policy Influence Type Influenced training of practitioners or researchers
 
Description Positional dependence of activity determination in SPECT - submitted article to Nuclear Medicine Communications to demonstrate the importance of verifying attenuation correction in clinical software.
Geographic Reach Multiple continents/international 
Policy Influence Type Influenced training of practitioners or researchers
 
Description STFC Industrial CASE Studentship Panel (Dave Cullen)
Geographic Reach National 
Policy Influence Type Membership of a guideline committee
URL https://stfc.ukri.org/funding/studentships/industrial-case-studentships/
 
Description Bone analogue phantoms: redefining standards in patient specific MRT dosimetry
Amount £18,600 (GBP)
Funding ID ST/T003278/1 
Organisation Science and Technologies Facilities Council (STFC) 
Sector Public
Country United Kingdom
Start 12/2019 
End 03/2020
 
Title A custom made elliptical phantom (CATIE, the Christie Anatomical Tomographic Imaging Ellipse) 
Description A custom made elliptical phantom (CATIE, the Christie Anatomical Tomographic Imaging Ellipse) has been employed to scan a range of patient organ phantoms to investigate geometrical effects. 
Type Of Material Improvements to research infrastructure 
Year Produced 2013 
Provided To Others? Yes  
Impact The phantom was used at The Christie to allow new data to be collected. These data were analysed and resulted in 3 publications so far. 
 
Title Custom made 3D printed patient-specific organs. 
Description Anonymised Patient specific CT images were used to derive 3D printed phantoms which could be filled with 177Lu and scanned with SPECT scanners. The outputs of these scans were used to validate Monte-Carlo simultions. 
Type Of Material Improvements to research infrastructure 
Year Produced 2018 
Provided To Others? No  
Impact Publication in progress 
 
Title Fabrication of large scale medical phantom, ALF^3IE: A Large Fused Filament Fabricated Imaging Ellipse 
Description A custom made elliptical phantom (CATIE, the Christie Anatomical Tomographic Imaging Ellipse) has been employed previously to scan a range of patient organ phantoms to investigate geometrical effects. However, not all patient anatomies could be contained within the dimensions of CATIE. To enable the inclusion across the full patient range, which may indicate full extent of deviation from the clinical 'one size fits all' approach to MRT, a new phantom ellipse was designed and constructed entirely in house at UoM. Realistic attenuation and scattering properties are achieved by use of materials with a similar Hounsfield Unit (electron density) to water and indeed human tissue. To this aim, the central section of ALFIE was constructed entirely in PLA, the 3D printing filament closest to water in HU. This phantom has backwards compatible with patient organ sets designed for use in CATIE. 
Type Of Material Improvements to research infrastructure 
Year Produced 2019 
Provided To Others? Yes  
Impact ALFIE has recently been used for a successful scan at the Christie with 177Lu for patient H, the largest patient of the cohort. This is intended to demonstrate the importance of an individual approach to MRT dosimetry, by highlighting the extent of deviation of real patients from the standardised MIRD organ representation. 
 
Title Improvements to research infrastructure - High Throughput Condor Monte-Carlo Simulation Cluster 
Description To meet increasing demand for existing cluster resources, a further HTC cluster has been assembled. The additional cluster currently is comprised of 15 machine, totalling 284 threads at 2.4 - 4.0 GHz. Running CentOS 7 with access to the 4th floor ldap for hosted accounts, the cluster writes to a private NAS on a dedicated gigabit network. The primary purpose is simulation, with geant4.10.05 and OpenGATE 8.2 available. 
Type Of Material Improvements to research infrastructure 
Year Produced 2017 
Provided To Others? No  
Impact The work from patient anatomy MRT simulation has been published in Physica Medica (https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S1120179719300134) and Nuclear Medicine Communications (Manuscript Number: NMC-11-2985R1, publication pending). 
URL https://personalpages.manchester.ac.uk/staff/ben.pietras/ithubschuster/mainSpace/home.html
 
Title Monte Carlo SPECT simulation validation 
Description Developing a validation protocol that can be applied to Monte Carlo simulations of SPECT systems. Currently under development but plan to publish in the future. 
Type Of Material Improvements to research infrastructure 
Year Produced 2020 
Provided To Others? No  
Impact This validation protocol is being used to extensively validate the simulation of the Mediso AnyScan SPECT system. Once complete, this protocol will be published and will be possible to apply to any Monte Carlo SPECT simulations. 
 
Title New Gamma camera geometry simulation 
Description The GE Discovery 670 pro is the latest gamma camera used for SPECT scanning at The Christie. This camera geometry has now been modelled inside of OpenGATE, a process that firstly required multiple enquiries to GE to determine the model of Hamamatsu PMT employed, to optimise for realistic backscattering for higher energy photons. This model is now available to our group and used in multiple simulations. 
Type Of Material Improvements to research infrastructure 
Year Produced 2018 
Provided To Others? No  
Impact Using the exact geometry has enabled a more precise agreement of simulation to experimental data, validating MC as a tool to calculate dose for several radio-pharmaceuticals. 
 
Title A range of anthropomorphic phantoms, based on real patient CT data, has been manufactured through fused filament fabrication and scanned at The Christie 
Description A range of patient phantoms has been scanned using real patient distributions of 99*Tc and 177Lu to allow for validation of MC simulation over a realistic cohort. This experimental data may further be used to probe the efficacy of clinical image reconstruction software packages. 
Type Of Material Database/Collection of data 
Year Produced 2018 
Provided To Others? No  
Impact The impact in validating MC simulation is the use of this to utilise patient specific s-factors, enabling an individual approach to MRT (molecular radiotherapy) dosimetry - with significantly greater accuracy than currently employed clinical models. 
 
Title Monte Carlo simulation of the Mediso Anyscan SPECT system 
Description A detailed Monte Carlo simulation has been created in GATE for the Mediso AnyScan SPECT system. This model can be used to simulate SPECT acquisitions and has been used in a large amount of research for this project. 
Type Of Material Computer model/algorithm 
Year Produced 2019 
Provided To Others? No  
Impact This simulation model is being used as the basis for a SPECT simulation validation protocol which we aim to publish. It has also been used to generate primary research data for the PhD project and has been used by other team members on related projects. 
 
Description NPL 
Organisation National Physical Laboratory
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution We have shared information on SOECT cameras calibration and nuclear physics knowledge.
Collaborator Contribution NPL has provided access to absolute calibration standards
Impact A new PhD student has been sponsored through this collaboration
Start Year 2016
 
Description Royal Surrey County Hospital NHS Foundation Trust 
Organisation Royal Surrey County Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Public 
PI Contribution With Anna Chillicot, a clinical scientist at the Royal Surrey County Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, we scanned an anthropomorphic torso phantom, "patient Q" with the next generation SPECT/CT system the GE NM CT 870 CZT.
Collaborator Contribution We created the phantom from scratch and in partnership with the Royal Surrey County Hospital undertook the 177Lu anthropomorphic torso phantom scan.
Impact Characterisation of next gen SPECT/CT system.
Start Year 2019
 
Description Terbium production with WMIC 
Organisation University of Manchester
Department Wolfson Molecular Imaging Centre (WMIC)
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution We have provided a natural gadolinium foil to be irradiated with protons at the cyclotron at WMIC with the aim of studying terbium production.
Collaborator Contribution The Wolfson Molecular Imaging Centre (WMIC) has provided their cyclotron and expertise for this work.
Impact This collaboration has provided data for my PhD and will be used to study the feasibility of producing clinical-quantities of theranostic terbium from this method.
Start Year 2018
 
Description The Christie NHS Foundation Trust, Nuclear Medicine Department. 
Organisation The Christie NHS Foundation Trust
Department Christie Medical Physics and Engineering
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Hospitals 
PI Contribution We have provided the physics expertise needed to deliver improved dose calculations for Molecular Radiotherapy treatments at The Christie. This work has combined existing expertise in Monte-Carlo simulation, from basic nuclear physics research, and novel new 3D printing techniques. This collaboration has already delivered improved activity quantification for MRT at The Christie which provide the foundation of accurate and optimised patient dose calculations.
Collaborator Contribution The Christie has provide access to anonymised patient data, clinical SPECT cameras, Molecular Radio Therapy (MRT) isotopes and current MRT dosimetry software which has allowed the techniques developed in this work to be translate to a clinical environment. The research output from this collaboration has provided improved activity quantification and validation of exiting MRT dosimetry software.
Impact This collaboration has delivered improved activity quantification for Molecular Radio Therapy at The Christie which provide the foundation of accurate and optimised patient dose calculations. The research output from this collaboration has provided improved activity quantification and validation of exiting Molecular Radio Therapy dosimetry software. The collaboration has submitted two research papers on this work.
Start Year 2009
 
Description University of Birmingham 
Organisation University of Birmingham
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution We have provided calculations of optimal proton and alpha energies for irradiation of gadolinium and europium targets with the aim of producing theranostic terbium isotopes.
Collaborator Contribution The University of Birmingham has permitted use of their cyclotron for irradiation of our natural gadolinium targets and their expertise in accelerator physics.
Impact This collaboration has provided data for my PhD as well as data for one of Birmingham's PhD students.
Start Year 2018
 
Title Refinement of Hermes Medical Solutions Ltd. Dosimetry Software. 
Description .. 
Type Therapeutic Intervention - Radiotherapy
Current Stage Of Development Refinement. Clinical
Year Development Stage Completed 2018
Development Status Under active development/distribution
Impact
 
Title 3-D printed moving mini SPECT model for outreach 
Description A physical model of a SPECT system has been created out of 3D printed parts and Arduino motors. The model is used for outreach with schools and members of the public, in order to discuss the applications of nuclear physics in medicine. 
Type Of Technology Physical Model/Kit 
Year Produced 2019 
Impact This model has been taken to events at 3 different schools and was very well received by students and teachers. It forms part of an outreach project which aims to highlight the applications of nuclear physics in medicine. The model was also showcased at an open day event for members of the public at the Christie Hospital. Unfortunately, the pandemic meant that several more planned events had to be cancelled, such as more visits to schools and the Pint of Science evenings for the public. There are plans to develop this project further and print more models which can be sent to schools since visits are still difficult. 
 
Title Anthro Dose Calc code 
Description The Anthro Dose Calc code was developed by Emlyn Price, and can be used to extract s-factors from voxelized Monte Carlo simulations with OpenGATE. 
Type Of Technology Software 
Year Produced 2019 
Impact Interfaced with AI for automatic organ registration, this enables an individualised approach to MRT dosimetry. 
 
Title Software for 3D printing and Geant simulation 
Description Software to convert between CT scan images and CAD drawing packages to that which can be printed by a 3D printer. 
Type Of Technology Software 
Year Produced 2016 
Impact We are being approached by other academics about producing 3D images and another group at The Christie hospital. 
 
Description 'Speed networking' evening event for mums and year 8 daughters to give girls an idea of what a career in physics or engineering would be like. 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact 'Speed networking' evening event for mums and year 8 daughters to give girls an idea of what a career in physics or engineering would be like. Around 40 mum-daughter pairs and 24 women in STEM attended (SP).
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2018
 
Description 'Speed networking' event for year 10 students from Whalley Range High School. 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Schools
Results and Impact 'Speed networking' event for year 10 students from Whalley Range High School. Arranged through STEM ambassadors. Spoke to around 60 students for 4-5 minutes each about studying physics. Located at Connell Sixth Form College (SP - Sophia Pells).
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2018
 
Description 'Step into the future event' held at the University of Manchester for year 10 girls from Levenshulme High School. 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Local
Primary Audience Schools
Results and Impact 'Step into the future event' held at the University of Manchester for year 10 girls from Levenshulme High School. Spoke to small groups about studying physics and a PhD (SP).
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2018
 
Description 'Women In Physics Summer School'. 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Undergraduate students
Results and Impact 'Women In Physics Summer School'. Event for female physics undergraduates from the UK and Germany. Chatting to participants and discussing what a PhD is like and what my research is on (SP).
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2018
 
Description 3D Printing workshop talk 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Third sector organisations
Results and Impact Presented research on 3D printing - Nick Calvert.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2017
 
Description 3D printing for molecular radiotherapy dosimetry - IDUG/BIR conference on the future of molecular radiotherapy dosimetry, Oxford, UK, 2016 
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 The talk highlighted the use of 3D printing as a way to provide a more presonalised dosimetry for patients underoing SPECT. The talk was to the UK Internal User's Dosimetry Group and included clinicians and researchers working in SPECT dosimetry. The talk sparked several questions from the audience.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2016
 
Description BNMS 2020 Invited Speaker 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact BNMS 2020 Invited Speaker
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2020
 
Description EANM presentation 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Presented work virtually at the European Association of Nuclear Medicine Conference. Awarded a 'Top-rated oral presentation'.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2020
 
Description GATE user meeting talk 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Gave a talk on my Mediso simulation and terbium SPECT imaging work at the Gate User meeting as part of the IEEE conference.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2019
 
Description HeadStart Nuclear Physics Summer School. 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Schools
Results and Impact HeadStart Nuclear Physics Summer School. Gave a tour of the physics department to students and gave a talk regarding my research and my path into this PhD (SP).
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2018
 
Description HeadStart summer school talk 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Schools
Results and Impact HeadStart Nuclear Physics Summer School. Gave a tour of the physics department to students and gave a talk regarding my research and my path into this PhD.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2018
 
Description Headstart lecture for lower-sixth students, at UoM 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Schools
Results and Impact Presentation and discussion of 3D printing applied to individual MRT dosimetry - BP.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2017,2018
URL http://www.etrust.org.uk/headstart-inspire-ris
 
Description IEEE poster presentation 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Presented a virtual poster and gave a 5 minute presentation on Monte Carlo SPECT simulation validation at the IEEE Nuclear Science and Medical Imaging Conference.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2020
 
Description INPC talk 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Gave talk at the International Nuclear Physics Conference in Glasgow on terbium standardisation and quantitative SPECT.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2019
 
Description IPEM meeting on quant. SPECT imaging, Newcastle 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Third sector organisations
Results and Impact IPEM meeting on quant. SPECT imaging - NC.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2018
URL https://www.ipem.ac.uk/ConferencesEvents.aspx
 
Description Invited seminar: An Individual approach to Molecular Radiotherapy Dosimetry using 3D printed phantoms. 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Postgraduate students
Results and Impact Invited by Dr Harkness (the University of Liverpool) to give a 45 minute seminar on the application of 3D printing to MRT dosimetry, followed by 15 minutes of questions / discussion. This seminar was held for the Nuclear group of the university.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2018
 
Description MEDICIS-promed talk 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Gave talk on the quantitative Tb-155 imaging work.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2019
 
Description MRTDosimetry workshop talk, Czech Technical University 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Third sector organisations
Results and Impact Discussion on MRT Dosimetry work undertaken at UoM and The Christie - NC.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2018
URL http://mrtdosimetry-empir.eu/?page_id=210
 
Description NPL 3D Printing workshop presentation 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Third sector organisations
Results and Impact A nationwide workshop on 3D printing, hosted at the NPL. Talk sparked a number of discussions. BP.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2017
URL http://www.npl.co.uk/science-technology/radiation-dosimetry/npl-memphys-workshop-on-applications-of-...
 
Description NPL MEMPHYS Workshop on Applications of 3D printing for medical phantoms 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Talk title: An individual approach to Molecular radiotherapy
dosimetry using 3D printed phantoms
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2017
 
Description NuSPRASEN talk 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Gave talk on the terbium standardisation measurements and calibration factors for quantitative SPECT at the NuSPRASEN workshop on applications of nuclear physics.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2019
 
Description Online chats with school students-I'm a scientist 
Form Of Engagement Activity Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Schools
Results and Impact I was asked to return to to I'm a Scientist take part in another online outreach event that ran for 10 weeks from April. 120 scientists and 1186 students from 52 schools took part in the event. The students voted me as 'scientist of the week' for one of the 10 weeks.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2020
URL https://imascientist.org.uk/
 
Description Open Day at The Christie NHS Foundation Trust in support of International Day of Medical Physics 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact Operated a stand on site at The Christie NHS Foundation Trust demonstrating public engagement tools developed by the collaboration, with the purpose of informing the general public and fellow staff at The Christie about the work undertaken by both the department and the collaboration. Tools included a miniature model of a SPECT scanner with rotating heads that could be used to explain the mechanics of its operation. Visitors included staff, patients at The Christie and other people on site on the day. All visitors left interested and grateful for insight provided as well as entertained by the content of the stand.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2019
 
Description Presentation to year 10 students describing my research area, Whalley Range High School 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Schools
Results and Impact Presentation to year 10 students describing my research area (SP). Run by the Manchester INFUSE project (Lloyd Cawthorne)
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2018
 
Description Royal Sussex County Hospital, Gave talk on the work we've done at the Christie & UoM on Quantitative SPECT imaging 
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 Presentation on the work we've done at the Christie & UoM on Quantitative SPECT imaging - NC, Nick Calvert.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2018
 
Description STEM Ambassadors event, Cheadle Hulme High School 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Schools
Results and Impact STEM Ambassadors event: SP gave three 20 minute presentations to three groups of students from years 7, 9, 10 and 12 about her PhD project as part of an after school program for students interested in science.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2018
 
Description STEM Ambassadors event: 'Speed Networking' event with Key Stage 4 students, at Manchester Creative Studio. 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Schools
Results and Impact STEM Ambassadors event: 'Speed Networking' event with Key Stage 4 students. Short presentation about the group's research followed by general questions about PhD / studying physics.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2017
 
Description School visit- Cheadle Hulme 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Local
Primary Audience Schools
Results and Impact Gave three 20 minute presentations to three groups of students from years 7, 9, 10 and 12 about my PhD project as part of an after school program for students interested in science.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2018
 
Description School visit- Manchester Creative Studio 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Local
Primary Audience Schools
Results and Impact 'Speed Networking' event with Key Stage 4 students. Short presentation about my research followed by general questions about PhD/ studying physics. with small groups of students.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2017
 
Description Science Unlocked Talk 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Gave a virtual talk as part of the University of Manchester's Science Unlocked program for academics and professionals at the University of Manchester and the Christie Hospital. Around 40 people joined the session.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2020
 
Description Seminar of 3D printed phantoms, WMIC 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Schools
Results and Impact Gave a seminar of techniques and application of 3D printing to MRT dosimetry to lower sixth students at the WMIC. Included a presentation and real printed phantoms of varying materials - BP.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2018
 
Description Step into the future event 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Schools
Results and Impact 'Step into the future event' held at the University of Manchester for year 10 girls from Levenshulme High School. Spoke to small groups about studying physics and a PhD.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2018
 
Description Step into the future event 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Schools
Results and Impact Repeat of 'Step into your future' event. Spoke to around 60 students for 5 minutes each about my research and what studying physics is like. Part of a 'Step into your future' day designed to give school students information about careers in STEM subjects.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2019
 
Description Talk at Radiotherapy Modelling Workshop at Luz Saint Sauveur 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Presented a talk at a workshop on radiotherapy modelling organised by the SFPM (Société Française de Physique Médicale). Dates: 21 - 24 September 2016. Talk title: 'Patient specific Monte Carlo dose calculations for 3D printed phantom studies in molecular radiotherapy'
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2016
URL http://luz2016.sfpm.fr/Luz/Welcome.html
 
Description Talk to Year 10s - Whalley Range 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Local
Primary Audience Schools
Results and Impact Presentation to year 10 students describing my research area. Run by the Manchester INFUSE project.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2018
 
Description Talk to a primary school class 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Local
Primary Audience Schools
Results and Impact Gave a talk on my research area to a class of around 30 10 - 11 year old students. Sparked a lot of questions from the students about my work and general science.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2019
 
Description Talk to school students 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Local
Primary Audience Schools
Results and Impact Talk to students from a few visiting schools describing my research area and my path to this PhD. Run by the Manchester INFUSE project.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2019
 
Description Talk to the Trafford Ogden Partnership of schools 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Local
Primary Audience Schools
Results and Impact Gave a talk on nuclear medicine and isotope production over Zoom to around 50 Year 12 students from schools around Trafford as part of a Year 12 Study Week with the Trafford Ogden Trust.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2020
 
Description Talk to undergraduate society 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Undergraduate students
Results and Impact Gave a talk over Zoom to the University of Manchester's undergraduate Nuclear and Particle Physics Society on my research area. Around 50 people attended the session and the talk was recorded for the society's Facebook page.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2020
 
Description UK Nuclear Physics Lockdown 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 I gave a 20 minute presentation over Zoom on validation of Monte Carlo SPECT simulations as part of the UK Nuclear Physics Lockdown Seminar Series.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2020
URL http://www.lockdownseminars.co.uk/
 
Description Videos for Ogden Trust schools 
Form Of Engagement Activity A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press)
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Schools
Results and Impact I have been producing short videos on nuclear physics for school students at the Challenge Academy Trust. I have also started putting together videos from other PhD students. This project continues to expand with more talks on different subjects from different students. I have been informed the videos have been added to the schools' Schemes of Work for the curriculum and will continue to be shown to science GCSE students across the Trust of schools.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2020,2021
 
Description Visit to school - Connell Sixth Form 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Schools
Results and Impact 'Speed networking' event for year 10 students from Whalley Range High School. Arranged through STEM ambassadors. Spoke to around 60 students for 4-5 minutes each about studying physics.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2018
 
Description Visit to school - Loreto Grammar school 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Schools
Results and Impact Gave 6 10-minute talks to groups of year 10 school students from Loreto Grammar School and nearby schools as part of an event organised with the Trafford Ogden Trust partnership.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2020
 
Description Visit to school- Ashton on Mersey 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Schools
Results and Impact Spoke to around 40 female pupils from year 9 and 10 in small groups about my research and what working in physics is like.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2019
 
Description Visit to school- Manchester Academy 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Schools
Results and Impact Participating in a exhibition being hosted at Manchester Academy for roughly 1000 school students from the area. The day aims to raise aspirations and enthusiasm for different areas of STEM during British Science Week. I discussed my research area and its impact with small groups of students for the whole day.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2020
 
Description Visit to school- Stockport Grammar 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Schools
Results and Impact Gave a lunch time talk on nuclear medicine to a group of ~30 students from year 7 to 13. Also showed the SPECT camera Raspberry Pi model built with the I'm A Scientist money.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2019
 
Description Visit to school- Urmston Grammar 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Schools
Results and Impact 'Speed networking' evening event for mums and year 8 daughters to give girls an idea of what a career in physics or engineering would be like. Around 40 mum-daughter pairs from schools around the Trafford area, and 24 women in STEM attended.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2018
 
Description Visit to school- Urmston Grammar 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Schools
Results and Impact Repeat of the 'Speed networking' evening event for mums and year 8 daughters to give girls an idea of what a career in physics or engineering would be like. Around 40 mum-daughter pairs and 24 women in STEM attended.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2019
 
Description Winner of online outreach activity- I'm a Scientist- Get me out of here! 
Form Of Engagement Activity Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Schools
Results and Impact An on-line activity where school students connect with scientists. A total of 3,863 school students from participating schools across the country could ask questions to scientists through live chats and the website. I was the winner in the "nuclear zone" which was supported by STFC. For winning I received £500 to put towards other outreach activities.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2019
URL https://imascientist.org.uk/
 
Description Women in physics summer school talk 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Undergraduate students
Results and Impact 'Women In Physics Summer School'. Event for female physics undergraduates from the UK and Germany. Chatting to participants and discussing what a PhD is like and what my research is on.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2018
 
Description Workshop: Headstart Summer school 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Schools
Results and Impact Talk title: An introduction to Nuclear medicine. Presentation to teachers at the "teach the teachers" meeting.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2017