New £10 million centre to cut heart disease
12 Nov 2007
King's College London has officially launched a new £10 million, state-of-the-art research facility for medical imaging. It houses a newly formed team of specialists, called the Interdisciplinary Medical Imaging Group (IMIG).
Specialists from IMIG have already begun to develop new cutting-edge imaging techniques. They are currently working on a new method which uses Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scans to diagnose the severity of coronary heart disease and how best to treat it.
It is hoped that this new method will allow specialists to detect tiny abnormalities in the coronary arteries. If left untreated, these abnormalities could lead to heart disease, which is the UK's biggest killer. It is also anticipated that this new method could soon replace cardiac catheterisation; an invasive procedure, which can carry risk of complications.
IMIG is an innovative team of multidisciplinary researchers focused on developing advancements in medical imaging, which is part of the Division of Imaging Sciences. It is formed of internationally renowned scientists in physics, computer science, mathematics, chemistry, biology and medicine.
The new centre, based at King's College London, St Thomas' Campus, includes laboratories, offices and dedicated state-of-the-art facilities for Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), Positron Emission Tomography (PET), Ultrasound and X-ray imaging (details below).
An event was held on 9 November. It highlighted the interdisciplinary strengths of the team, as well as showcasing the state-of-the-art equipment. There was an opportunity to find out about the current work that is taking place. Tours of the centre were given, followed by inaugural lectures from five leading professors who have recently joined the IMIG.
Professor Reza Razavi, Head of the Division of Imaging Sciences, says: ‘We are excited to have attracted some of the best imaging scientists, whose complementary expertise will enable us to become a premier centre for imaging research. The outstanding facilities will mean that the scientific developments can quickly be translated into advancements in patient diagnosis and treatment, particularly in heart disease and cancer.'
It is anticipated that the IMIG will become a world-leading facility for imaging technology. Specialists are already leading the way in developing brand new imaging methods. In one such project, staff are developing new dyes that specifically highlight cancerous areas during scans. This would allow quicker and better diagnosis of even very small tumours, which otherwise may not be seen.
The new centre is also home to a brand new, state-of-the-art Philips Medical Systems' Achieva 3.0T MRI scanner. The scanner, worth over £1 million, was bought using part of the £1.5 million donation from Guy's and St Thomas' Charity. The collaborative support from Philips Medical Systems, as one of the group's research partners, will allow much closer investigation of patients with cardiovascular conditions than ever before.
Geoffrey Shepherd, Chief Executive, Guy's and St Thomas' Charity, says: ‘The Charity is committed to supporting world class research which will bring the benefits of new diagnostic techniques and the very latest medical treatments to patients…this MRI scanner…will allow much closer investigation of patients with cardiovascular conditions than ever before.'
Dr Ruud de Boer, PhD, Magnetic Resonance Clinical Science Director at Philips Medical Systems, says: ‘The newly formed IMIG is a strategically important luminary customer for Philips…We are looking forward to working together to develop cutting-edge diagnostic and interventional magnetic resonance imaging, using the newly-installed scanner…We are pleased and proud to be extending our relationship with the Group.'
Notes to editors
The IMIG symposium event, which is supported by Philips Medical Systems, was on Friday 9 November.
New equipment provided for the IMIG includes:
- Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), which is a diagnostic technique that provides cross-sectional images of the brain and other organs and structures within the body without X-ray or other forms of radiation. The MRI scanner was bought using donations from the Guy's and St Thomas' Hospital Charity.
- Positron Emission Tomography (PET). This produces a three-dimensional image or map of functional processes in the body. PET scans are used most often to detect cancer and to examine the effects of cancer therapy on the body.
- Computed Tomography (CT). This is a computerised x-ray procedure that produces cross-sectional images of the body layer by layer.
- Ultrasound. This is a picture of internal organs produced by high frequency sound waves viewed as an image on a monitor screen.
To find out more about the Interdisciplinary Medical Imaging Group (IMIG) visit this website.
King's College London
King's College London is the fourth oldest university in England with more than 13,700 undergraduates and nearly 5,600 graduate students in nine schools of study based at five London campuses. It is a member of the Russell Group: a coalition of the UK's major research-based universities. The College has had 24 of its subject-areas awarded the highest rating of 5* and 5 for research quality, demonstrating excellence at an international level, and it has recently received an excellent result in its audit by the Quality Assurance Agency.
King's has a particularly distinguished reputation in the humanities, law, international relations, medicine, nursing and the sciences, and has played a major role in many of the advances that have shaped modern life, such as the discovery of the structure of DNA. It is the largest centre for the education of healthcare professionals in Europe and is home to five Medical Research Council Centres – more than any other university.
King's is in the top group of UK universities for research earnings, with income from grants and contracts of more than £114 million, and has an annual income of more than £369 million.
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