Radiation Science Services provides scientific and technical support to diagnostic and interventional radiology in UHBW, North Bristol Trust , and Breast Screening programmes in Somerset and Wiltshire, assisting them to provide a high quality and safe imaging or treatment service to their patients.

We are a team of clinical technologists, clinical scientists , administrative staff , apprentices and trainees. We provide training on the clinical technologist apprenticeship scheme and clinical scientist training programme  as well as training for healthcare professionals across the hospitals.

We employ Medical Physics Experts, as required by the Ionising Radiations (Medical Exposures) Regulations, or IRMER, Radiation Protection Advisers to advise on ionising radiation and Laser Protection Advisers to advise on laser and artificial optical radiation, such as ultraviolet.

Medical imaging has a vital role in the management of many patients.  It is an evolving field, with new and improved imaging techniques coming into use, often requiring complex scanners and other equipment.

Imaging must be carried out in a way which minimises these risks, whilst still obtaining high quality images.  We work with medical staff, radiographers, engineers and other staff groups to achieve this. 

Some types of non-ionising radiation may also be used for treatment. UV light sources are used to treat some skin conditions, whilst laser radiation may be used in surgery, particularly on the eye.  These may also be hazardous unless accurately calibrated and correctly used.

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A wide range of research and innovation projects are carried out by members of the group, working closely with clinical and scientific colleagues. These range from small projects evaluating service developments to larger projects leading to publication in peer-reviewed academic journals and presentation at international conferences. Some of this work has attracted external research funding.

Research links have been established by members of the group with hospital staff in Bristol, Bath, Cheltenham, London and Southampton, and with academic staff in the University of Bristol, University of the West of England, University College London, and University of Bath. Members of the Group have supervised MSc projects for medical physicists, and been external supervisors for MSc and PhD projects at Bristol University.

The group provides support to clinical trials, including assisting with radiation doses assessments for ethics applications, and applying for licences to allow Doctors to use radioactive pharmaceuticals in research.

Key research areas include:

Brain

• Brain perfusion SPECT in Dementia.
• Imaging in paediatric epilepsy surgery.
• Development of test objects in brain SPECT and CT, including 3D-printing.
• Neuroimaging analysis and software development.

Lungs

• Comparison of CT scanners for emphysema analysis.
• Ventilation-perfusion SPECT/CT in emphysema. 

Infection

• Assessment of skull-base infection using Ga-67 SPECT/CT.

For information on our current projects and publications click here.

Quantification of Ga-67 uptake in skull-base infection, compared with clinical assessment of disease level.