![\"Patient](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/0_patient-doctor-holding-hands-hospital-bed.jpg\")
The first patients have already been through the scanner, taking part in research projects(Image: Bevan Goldswain \/ Getty)<\/p>\nThe cutting-edge and “revolutionary” scanners, which are the first of their kind in Scotland, “will help save lives”The first patients have already been through the scanner, taking part in research projects(Image: Bevan Goldswain \/ Getty)<\/p>\n
Scotland has long contributed to medical developments, with our NHS <\/a>a world-leader in healthcare quality and research. And now, we have taken another step forward in being considered the go-to for medical technology.<\/p>\n That is because a \u00a332million life-changing total-body scanner has arrived in Scotland<\/a> and is now operational at the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh – giving patients “peace of mind” and “serving as a catalyst for ground-breaking research”.<\/p>\n The country’s first Total-Body PET scanner has been dubbed a “game-changer” and will benefit patients locally and nationally, and helping to speed up diagnosis, treatment and clinical trials across the UK.<\/p>\n The scanner, co-managed by the University of Glasgow<\/a> and the University of Edinburgh, is up to 40 times more sensitive, up to 10 times faster, and can scan 50 per cent more patients per day than existing machines.<\/p>\n Researchers hope it will help to improve patient care by adding further diagnostic capacity and enhancing cancer, cardiovascular, neurological and inflammatory disease diagnosis and treatment.<\/p>\n John Cowan, a patient at the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, was one of the first to experience the PET scanner.<\/p>\n “After coming into hospital with a stroke<\/a>, the doctors could not tell me what had caused my stroke which was worrying for me,” John said.<\/p>\n “The scanner was able to pinpoint exactly what had caused my stroke, where the blood clot had come from and what treatment I needed.<\/p>\n “I am delighted that this scan has given me peace of mind and ensured that I am on the right treatment.”<\/p>\n The “revolutionary” scanners will “help save lives” by allowing experts to observe disease in real time and across the entire body, experts enthused. The machines are also a “quantum leap forward” in medical imaging technology.<\/p>\n “The scanner will serve as a catalyst for ground-breaking research and offers a unique window into our understanding of human diseases,” said Dr David Lewis, University of Glasgow and Cancer Research UK<\/a> Scotland Institute.<\/p>\n Dr David Newby, from University of Edinburgh, agreed the scanner is a “transformative technology” that has already started to advance clinical research and patient care, improving their understanding of complex diseases.<\/p>\n “Through the NPIP network, new collaborative projects will address some of the major unmet health problems that society faces today, such as endometriosis <\/a>and stroke,” he crucially noted.<\/p>\n Meanwhile, Lord Vallance, Science Minister, spoke of the importance of Scotland’s role in proceedings.<\/p>\n “Many of the great medical discoveries of the last century have roots in Scotland,” Lord Vallance said.<\/p>\n “The new scanner will help more patients to live longer, healthier lives through earlier detection, faster diagnoses and more effective treatment in complex illnesses like cancer<\/a>, dementia and heart disease for years to come.”<\/p>\n Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today.<\/p>\n You’ll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland.<\/p>\n No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team.<\/p>\n![\"The](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/0_NPIP-Scotland-total-body-PET-scanner.jpg\")
The Positron Emission Tomography (PET) scanner will capture images of patients\u2019 entire bodies 10 times faster(Image: University of Glasgow)<\/p>\n![\"The](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/0_total-body-scanner-full.jpg\")
The scanner, co-managed by the Universities of Edinburgh and Glasgow, is now in operation at the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh(Image: Universities of Edinburgh and Glasgow)<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/1747398730_254_0_WACOMMUNITYQR3.jpg\")
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