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Nuclear medicine physics

We have a key role in diagnostic nuclear medicine, providing clinical support to our imaging services (SPECT and PET). We're also involved in nuclear medicine as therapy, working with molecular radiotherapy services at UHS and at other locations through other healthcare providers.

Our research and development work mainly focuses on activity that can be translated into improving medical and health outcomes. Our work has been utilised worldwide, impacting hundreds of thousands of nuclear medicine patients.

Clinical support

Our role includes

  • supporting the safe use of ionising radiation for non-imaging, diagnostic imaging and therapeutic applications in nuclear medicine
  • improving the quality and effectiveness of radiation exposure as part of clinical audit, and ensuring doses are As Low As Reasonably Achievable (ALARA) whilst optimising image quality
  • communicating scientific and regulatory developments, helping our customers to adopt best practice, expand their service and have confidence in the standard of their work.

Diagnostic imaging

Our molecular imaging techniques offer high-sensitivity functional imaging. Uniquely, it's also able to track the distribution and efficacy of treatment in vivo.

We advise clinical departments on the scientific and technical aspects of diagnostic nuclear medicine procedures. We also provide support for the various IT and image processing solutions that we have developed to aid efficient clinical service delivery and development.

Molecular radiotherapy

We work with other professionals to make sure molecular radiotherapy (such as DOTATATE, Xofigo and radioiodine) is delivered to patients safely. We provide dosimetry advice and practical assistance to clinicians looking after patients having molecular radiotherapy.

We operate within an ISO 9001 quality management system and manage the nuclear medicine quality assurance programme at UHS, as part of our medical physics expert service to radiology. We survey equipment and perform trend analysis of results to get an early warning of any problems and avoid system downtime where we can. We have a continuous programme of updating procedures based on risk to make sure they meet local clinical demand and international standards.

Developing your service

We can help your service with introducing and validating new equipment and processing techniques, tailoring this to local needs and resources.

This includes support with selecting equipment, risk analysis and business case development, as well as working with your radiation protection group to ensure compliance. We provide annual audits and review with a report on progress and any outstanding issues, to help your staff manage the immediate and long-term needs of the department.

Teaching and training

Our group contributes to lecturing on BSc, MEng and FRCR courses at the University of Southampton and the University of Surrey. We also support project supervision for undergraduate medical students and post-graduate physicists and engineers (MSc and PhD).

We provide professional training for staff, and facilitate independent peer reviews of services where appropriate.