A new training facility has opened at Daresbury Laboratory that offers trainee medical physicists the chance to use cutting-edge scanning equipment.
The Medical Training and Research Laboratory (MTRL) is a joint initiative between the University of Liverpool, the Royal Liverpool University Hospital and the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC).
It houses a SPECT/CT scanner that is capable of producing a 3D map of a patient's body, making it invaluable in diagnosing medical issues. This will enable students to try out the technology away from the demands of a hospital environment, where there is often a long wait for access.
The laboratory that houses the scanner has been completely refurbished, and equipment has been provided, thanks to funding from STFC. And the scanning equipment itself was bought and installed by the University of Liverpool.
Dr Melvyn Carroll, from the University of Liverpool's Department of Physics, said: "This is a fantastic opportunity for our students to receive hands-on training during their MSc. The laboratory provides top-class facilities and expertise, allowing our students to receive the training they need to fulfil their careers."
STFC's Ian Lazarus, who leads the MTRL project team, said: "Scanners are used to show doctors exactly where to find tumours, how efficiently our hearts are working or what is happening in our brains – for instance, whether a patient's symptoms are caused by Parkinson's disease, or another condition with similar symptoms.
"The MTRL is dedicated to teaching and research; students who train here will have allocated blocks of time to use the SPECT/CT, so will gain knowledge and skills in a much shorter timescale."