Scotland’s first total-body scanner is now operational at the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh.
The innovative scanner is co-managed by the University of Edinburgh and Glasgow, delivered by the National Positron Emission Tomography Imaging Platform (NPIP), and run by UKRI’s Medical Research Council, Medicines Discovery Panel, and Innovate UK.
Its next-generation total-body PET imaging scanners, located in Scotland and London, provide superior functional imaging, capturing highly sensitive imaging data of the entire body.
The UK is driving the adoption of this game-changing technology via NPIP, which is a strategic concentration of clinical capability that attracts industry investment, and is funded by a £32m investment from UKRI.
It also establishes a platform for the development of new precision radiopharmaceuticals—an area in which the UK can potentially regain a world-leading position.
This expanded national network improves patient care in Scotland by adding further diagnostic capacity and enhancing cancer, cardiovascular, neurological and inflammatory disease diagnosis and treatment.
It also attracts industry to trial their newest drugs in the region and inventors to develop and test world-class AI and diagnostics tools. These objectives align closely with the UK government’s Industrial Strategy and Life Sciences Sector Plan.
John Cowan, a patient at the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, commented on his recent experience of the total-body PET scanner, saying: “After coming into hospital with a stroke, the doctors could not tell me what had caused my stroke which was worrying for me.
“I seized the opportunity to volunteer to take part in a research project using the very latest total-body PET scanner and it was able to pinpoint exactly what had caused my stroke, where the blood clot had come from and what treatment I needed.
“I am delighted that this scan has given me peace of mind and ensured that I am on the right treatment.”
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Scottish secretary, Ian Murray, also remarked: “Scotland’s first total-body scanner becoming operational at the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh is a game changer for patients and our world leading medical research sector.
“Funded by the UK Government, this scanner will help save lives by enabling earlier disease detection. It will also provide for a better patient experience and give our experts new insights into drug development.
“Scotland’s life sciences sector is a core strand of the UK Government’s 10-year Industrial Strategy launched this week to improve people’s lives and grow the economy as part of our Plan for Change.”
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