IOP Institute of Physics NEWSLETTER Summer 2013 Medical Physics Group

The Medical Meeting reports Physics Group 20th Annual Meeting & Exhibition of the International Postgraduate Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine Melbourne, Australia, 5-11th May 2012

Dissertation In May last year I attended the 20th Annual Meeting & Exhibition of the International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine, organised in Melbourne, Prize Australia. This is one of the biggest international conferences regarding MRI, gathering together clinicians, physicists, engineers, biochemists and technologists The Medical Physics Group (MPG) to discuss current research topics, exchange knowledge and build the connection of the Institute of Physics is pleased between scientific achievements and clinical applications. to announce a new student prize, to be awarded annually for the The conference started with the Educational Weekend filled with the lectures best master’s level dissertation, given by the experts on various MRI topics, designed to provide insight into the on a topic relevant to medical theoretical basis. This was very useful for people new to the field or looking for an physics and completed by a student introduction to the particular subjects in order to extend their research interests. member of the MPG during The main part of the conference was five days long and contained hundreds of the previous calendar year. Any oral presentations and traditional and electronic posters, grouped into separate dissertation submitted as a part of sessions according to their subjects. Hearing about the most current achievements an MSc programme of study at a related to my own research was extremely important as it let me look at my work university in the UK and Ireland from a different perspective and make me think about new ways of studying the is eligible for consideration. The problems I am working on. Presentations regarding more distant subjects allowed award, which has a monetary me to consider new possible directions of development and also to learn various value of £250, will be made to the methodological approaches which might be useful in my research. dissertation that, in the opinion Presenting the results of my recent research as two talks and two e-posters gave of the MPG Committee, has me a great opportunity to discuss my work with other researchers from the field made the greatest contribution to and take suggestions on how I can improve it. It was also a chance to make the advancement of medical physics. connections which can lead to benefits in the future. The closing date for receipt of The “outback party” with Australian animals such as wombats, koalas, kangaroos applications is January 31st of each and snakes was an amazing way to finish the conference and an unforgettable year for dissertations successfully experience. I would definitely go back to Australia and especially to Melbourne. examined in the previous calendar year (irrespective of submission Anna Blazejewska date). For this year’s inaugural prize, Sir Peter Mansfield Magnetic Resonance Centre, University of Nottingham, UK however, the application deadline will be 31st October 2013. Contents Nominations are invited from The Medical Physics Group Postgraduate Dissertation Prize 1 supervisors or similar persons (e.g. head of department, programme Meeting reports 1 director) in the form of a 2-page – 20th Annual Meeting & Exhibition of the International Society for (typed) summary of the dissertation Magnetic Resonance in Medicine and a letter of support from the – 9th International Conference on the Scientific and Clinical Applications of Magnetic Carriers proposer detailing the merits – Mayneord-Philips Summer School 2012 - Cardiac Imaging and Modelling: Principles, Methods and Clinical Relevance of the dissertation. Please send – Medical Physics and Engineering Conference nominations by e-mail to the – Physics in Healthcare secretary of the MPG committee – International Society for Therapeutic Ultrasound ([email protected]) who will be happy to provide any further Educational resource 10 information required. Journal spotlight 11 Upcoming meeting 12

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Meeting reports 20th Annual Meeting & Exhibition of the International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine Melbourne, Australia, 5-11th May 2012

The 2012 International Society of a research interest to Magnetic Resonance in Medicine a clinically applicable (ISMRM) annual meeting held in diagnostic method. Melbourne Australia was very well Another session of attended by international delegates, great interest was and the presentations and discussions the “Flow” oral were of a very high standard. The presentation session field of magnetic resonance imaging which presented (MRI) research is extremely multi- research in the disciplinary, involving physicists, popular area of 3- engineers, chemists, biologists and and 4-dimensional clinicians, and this diversity was phase contrast MRI. well represented at the conference. This technique uses This conference provides a unique the properties of opportunity to see the diversity of moving protons in the MRI signal to research that is occurring in the field generate stunning movies allowing The meeting was useful for me of MRI development, and provide a the visualisation of bulk blood academically, both as a learning broader context for one’s research flow through the great vessels and experience and as an opportunity relative to the vast array of research valves. I was particularly impressed to disseminate my thesis research presented. in the “MR-guided Intravascular & results. I presented three posters Percutaneous Interventions” oral at the meeting, all receiving positive One highlight from the conference presentation session with how the feedback and interesting questions. was the key-note lecture, the field of MR-guided interventions has In addition, since I was approaching “Lauterbur Lecture”, given on grown over the past years to develop the end of my PhD, the conference the topic of “MRI: from science the real time imaging techniques and provided an opportunity to look at to society” by Vivian Lee. This the MR-visible devices necessary the broad range of potential research lecture discussed the importance to successfully perform MR-guided opportunities in the field of MRI of MRI research, particularly in procedures. These techniques have physics and methods developments the cardiovascular field, to the the potential to replace X-Ray which I may want to explore in understanding and treatment of guidance to reduce ionising radiation my career. It also provided the major diseases. During the scientific exposure, particularly in children. opportunity to speak to a number meeting, I was most interested in of researchers to investigate career new developments in cardiovascular The above are a few specific options. I am grateful to have had imaging methodology, and there examples of the many interesting the chance to meet, and learn from, were a number of sessions dedicated sessions covering several areas of leading researchers in my field. to this topic. Of particular relevance application. As well, the displays to my PhD topic were the oral in the exhibition hall and the Overall, I found the ISMRM annual and poster presentations in the corporate-sponsored sessions were meeting a very valuable experience “Myocardial Perfusion” sessions. also of value as they provided the and I am grateful for the funding that These sessions presented many opportunity to learn about recent the Institute of Physics provided to novel technical developments for developments made by hardware assist my attendance. the measurement of myocardial and software manufacturers. In Adrienne Campbell-Washburn perfusion, as well as novel addition to the scientific meeting, Centre for Advanced Biomedical applications of the techniques to there were two days of educational Imaging, University College London, UK different cardiovascular diseases. As a training sessions which provided an physicist, it is interesting to see how excellent overview of current MRI such techniques are translated from techniques and ongoing research.

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Meeting reports 9th International Conference on the Scientific and Clinical Applications of Magnetic Carriers Minneapolis, Minnesota, 22-26th May 2012

The magnetic carrier’s series of meetings gives research the mechanism of heating. It also became clear that scientists and industrial suppliers the chance to showcase the practical method (orientation of particles within their latest developments in the field of magnetic carriers. field) exhibits high variability and there is a need for Advances in all fields of magnetic carriers were presented, standardisation in order for results between teams to be including diagnostics, therapy, analytics, separation comparable. chemistry, labelling, actuation and In the field of diagnostics, sub pM synthesis. detection of PSA (for detection of Urs Hafeli (the conference organiser) prostate cancers), voice recognition opened the meeting with an overview and magnetic tweezers are all of the highlights. In the field of showing promise; Tim St Pierre magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) and demonstrated the use of MRI in the their application, a further 4000 quantitative analysis of Fe content journal citations and 600 patents have in patients with sickle cell disease been added since the last meeting and Steven Saville showed that the two years ago. New directions in relaxometry time of MNP solutions research were presented including could be adjusted by forming chains. microwave (MW) chemistry, which In other areas, MNPs are finding has become a popular medium of application as magnetic bar codes; a heating with many research teams mini NMR system shows potential beginning to study MW effects in with high moment MNPs, a new syntheses. Research into magnetic analytical technique FFF-SAXS catalysts and surfactants (for clearing allows measurement of core size oil spillages) is proving useful, whilst as opposed to hydrodynamic size toxicological studies are allowing the (often presented as measurement behaviour of MNPs in the body to from photoelectron spectroscopy). be better understood. Specifically Magnetic separation is a growing in biomedicine, MNPs have been field with several demonstrations successfully shown as agents to and discussions of systems for improve neovascularisation and fractionation of magnetic microspheres, cells, proteins reduce atherosclerosis. and MNPs. In the field of flow chemistry, measurement In an invited talk, Kannan Krishnan described the of flow rates were demonstrated through the use of giant fundamentals behind magnetic particle imaging (MPI) and magneto resistance – magnetic cilia disrupt a magnetic the requirements for good MPI agents. A good imaging field to give an electronic signal. agent will exhibit a good signal with high magnetic Personally I found the conference useful on several levels. saturation at low applied magnetic field; the frequency Lectures showcasing research into the synthesis of MNPs required for a signal is dependent on the coercivity of gave me new insights and ideas for my own research the particles. Brownian motion should be minimised so into MNP synthesis on a very immediate timescale. One that the applied field can be aligned with the anisotropy aspect of my research investigates the phase transfer of of the MNPs. To conclude, emphasis was placed upon MNPs from organic to aqueous phase and I was inspired the requirement for better phase transfer methods, by a novel method (Mingli Peng) involving the chemical improved control of particle anisotropy and increased size change of a stabiliser to make it stable in solution as monodispersity. opposed to via chemical addition or stabiliser exchange. A particularly active discussion of the fundamentals Before attending the conference I attended a careers behind magnetic hyperthermia took place and there consultation at the RSC, which made me realise how appears to still be some confusion around this field, passionate I am about my research and the potential indicating that there is still work to be done in elucidating abroad to widen my capacity. At the conference I really

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...continued from p3 took the opportunity to network Luke A.W. Green extensively and make useful contacts The Davy Faraday Research with researchers in academia and Laboratories, The Royal Institution of industry in Australia, Germany Great Britain, UK and the USA. I hope to continue Department of Physics and Astronomy, correspondence with such contacts University College London, UK both on a professional and a personal level. In my opinion this was a hugely successful conference which inspired and excited me whilst providing useful opportunities for further learning and career progression.

Meeting reports 9th International Conference on the Scientific and Clinical Applications of Magnetic Carriers Minneapolis, Minnesota, 22-26th May 2012

The 9th International Conference on Professor the Scientific and Clinical Applications Robert Ivkov of Magnetic Carriers, held in and Professor Minneapolis from 21–26th May 2012, Carlos Rinaldi, attracted participants from across the in magnetic scientific community working on the hyperthermia. use of magnetic materials for biological This event applications for a week of talks, permitted not discussions and debates. Professor only to directly Jian Ping Wang, the host of the compare their conference, and his lab, organised a views but more great program on the University of importantly, Minnesota campus. it offered the opportunity to The conference was focused on the audience to the latest findings on the synthesis bring their ideas and use of magnetic materials for a to the open variety of applications ranging from public for discussion, which was a very frontiers that I have been pursuing and immunoassays to water purification positive experience for the community. it has given me a new and more up-to- or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). It was possible to point out weak date focus to it. Speakers such as Professor Tim points that need to be addressed and St. Piere, a major figure in MRI and it has given an awareness of the real Finally I would like to thank the Professor Kannan M. Krishan, one needs and the direction that the field Medical Physics Group from the of the pioneers working on magnetic needs now to move towards. Institute of Physics for their financial particle imaging (MPI) were present. contribution, which made my Key points such as the characteristics This conference has been greatly attendance to the conference possible. beneficial for my scientific development needed from the contrast agents or the Cristina Blanco-Andujar new diagnostic techniques on the field and career as I was able to interact The Davy Faraday Research Laboratories, were discussed, which was of great with other scientists within my The Royal Institution of Great Britain, UK value for any research group working research field and find out about the Department of Physics and Astronomy, latest advances. Not only has this on the development of new contrast University College London, UK agents. Moreover, for the first time helped to widen my general scientific in this conference series, a debate knowledge but it has given me the was held with two seasoned experts: tools to assess some of the research

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Meeting reports Mayneord-Philips Summer School 2012 - Cardiac Imaging and Modelling: Principles, Methods and Clinical Relevance Oxford, UK, 2-6th July 2012

From the 2nd-6th July 2012 thirty-five early-career researchers from a range of disciplines, including imaging physicists, computational biologists, clinicians and mathematicians, attended the 2012 Mayneord-Philips Summer School at The Queen’s College Oxford. This year the summer school focused on the cardiovascular system. A key strength of this event was the mix of people in attendance from across the UK and further afield. This included scientists and clinicians from academic, healthcare and industrial sectors with interests in a wide range of topics within the remit of this year’s school.

Monday imaging modalities available in clinical cardiology today. This The main focus of Monday was the theory and practice stimulated a lively conversation to bring the educational of a range of cardiac imaging modalities, including x-ray content of the first day to a close. angiography, echocardiography, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and cardiac CT. A keynote lecture was given by Tuesday Professor Alejandro Frangi (University of Sheffield, UK Tuesday’s main focus was modelling cardiac mechanics. The and Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Spain), highlighting the first talk was given by Dr Philip Kilner (Royal Brompton explosion of data that is becoming available to clinicians Hospital, UK) and provided a thought-provoking look at the through integration of multiple modalities and the trend presence of increasingly sophisticated structural features in towards true four-dimensional (spatial plus temporal) data the heart associated with increasingly complex vertebrates. acquisition. Professor Tobias Schaeffter (Kings College The keynote speaker Dr Dominique Chapelle (INRIA- London, UK) provided an excellent overview of cardiac Rocquencourt, France) presented a systematic overview of anatomy and physiology. how a whole-heart electrically-coupled mechanics model To bring the day to a close all of the speakers returned could be constructed based on phenomena occurring at to the stage for the first forum of the summer school, different spatial and temporal scales. comparing the advantages and limitations of the various ...continued on p6

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He was followed by Dr Sabine Ernst (Royal Brompton Hospital, UK) who explained the clinical protocol of EP studies. Dr Ernst concluded by detailing a wish list of what could further improve EP studies to the audience, hopefully inspiring and motivating future project ideas. Dr Richard Clayton (University of Sheffield, UK) discussed several different software packages which can be used for EP modelling, providing some tricks and tips for those who are wishing to use these methods in their own work. The last talk of the day was given by Mikael Wallman (University of Oxford, UK) on patient specific EP models. This talk identified the differences between the two sides of modelling - predictive modelling to estimate observable outcomes from a given set of parameters, and the reverse problem of using measured data to estimate potentially unobservable parameters. The workshop session “Hands on Flow” turned out to be a literal description of what to expect. Dr Philip Kilner had drawn on his scientific and clinical experience, as well as that gained in his other career in sculpture, to set up a wide variety of experiments to demonstrate often counter-intuitive flow effects. They ranged from simple trays filled with different liquids mixed with micro dust to sesame seeds in little bowls.

Thursday Thursday’s talks focused mainly on coronary blood flow, with the keynote lecture given by Dr Sarah Waters (University of Oxford, UK) on “Mathematical Modelling of Professor Schaeffter provided an overview of how Physiological Flows”. Her talk demonstrated the impact of current imaging techniques can obtain information about blood vessel curvature on the distribution of wall shear stress the mechanics of the heart. Dr Phillippe Moireau (INRIA- using a finite element model of coronary blood flow. Rocquencourt, France) then talked about estimation techniques for fitting model parameters based on minimising Interventional cardiologist Dr Justin Davies (National discrepancies between imaging data and cardiac model Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London, UK) simulations. A take-home message from this talk was then discussed analyses of coronary artery haemodynamics “balancing model complexity with predictivity”. in health and disease with a presentation on wave intensity analysis (WIA). The cardiac electrophysiology (EP) workshop led by Dr Richard Clayton (University of Sheffield, UK), provided a Another approach to analysing coronary blood flow was then great introduction and overview of electrical activity in the presented by Clinical Research Fellow Dr Amedeo Chiribiri heart and was a helpful precursor to lectures to follow on (Kings College London, UK) who talked about the growing Wednesday. clinical utility of first-pass perfusion (FPP) MRI. The routine clinical use of FPP-MRI looks to become more widespread, Wednesday with recent studies showing the superior sensitivity and specificity of this modality over single-photon emission The focus of Wednesday was cardiac electrophysiology. computed tomography (SPECT) in detecting coronary artery Dr T Alex Quinn (Imperial College London, UK) gave disease. the keynote lecture on different strategies to model the electrophysiology of the heart, providing a history of the The final talk of the day was delivered by Imaging Scientist development of the models. Dr Graeme Penney (Kings College London, UK) on

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methods of image registration to guide clinical interventions Student presentations and to merge structural and functional information Each student prepared a poster and a short talk to from different imaging modalities. Applications of image be presented in sessions throughout the week. These registration presented were speckle tracking in cardiac presentations successfully stimulated discussions both within ultrasound to assess cardiac wall motion, registration of the sessions and less formally throughout the course of the anatomical MRI images to real-time invasive angiography for week, and it was this interaction which many students felt image-guided interventions, and 3D flow quantification from to be the most valuable aspect of the school. Doppler ultrasound. On Thursday afternoon a visit to the Oxford Centre for A clinician’s perspective Clinical Magnetic Resonance at the John Radcliffe Hospital Cardiology trainees were able to gain insights on the took place. An overview of different cardiac pathologies technical foundations of cardiac modelling from different which are routinely diagnosed and assessed with MRI at this perspectives, such as mathematics, physics and engineering. hospital was followed by visits to a 3T and newly acquired The discussions were particularly useful, as they permitted 7T MRI system. opinions and personal views to be presented and challenged in a very friendly atmosphere. Friday Friday’s talks addressed the current challenges and unmet Social activities needs facing the field of cardiac modelling, with the keynote The evenings were spent exploring some of Oxfords many lecture given by Professor Peter Kohl (University of fine pubs and enjoying meals (including the four-course gala Oxford, UK and Imperial College London, UK) introducing dinner on the Thursday), in the grandeur of The Queen’s some concepts of the philosophy behind multi-scale College dining hall. Sadly the British summer weather modelling. A vision of how computational modelling and scuppered the plans of taking in the sights of Oxford from systems biology has the capacity to integrate information the water as no-one fancied punting in the pouring rain. spanning from gene expression to proteins to cells to tissues There was time to enjoy some of Oxfords indoor attractions to organs and to an organism was given, with reference though (such as the Museum of Natural History and the made to the Virtual Physiological Human Project. Dr Museum of the History of Science) on the Friday afternoon Kilner then provided a complimentary perspective on following the morning sessions that brought the summer modelling with a talk about the utility of physical models in school to a close. understanding blood flow. Closing remarks Dr Ricardo Petraco (National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London, UK) then presented findings that The standard of teaching was excellent but more demonstrated the limitations of using luminal narrowing importantly the school brought together a wide range quantified from angiography as a surrogate metric for of students, post-docs and senior figures from a range fractional flow reserve (FFR) in determining the physiological of modalities together and gave them space and time to severity of a coronary stenosis. discuss ideas freely with each other. To any PhD students, trainees or post-docs reading this; if the next Mayneord- The final talk of the summer school was given by Professor Philips Summer School is relevant to you then we can’t Nic Smith (Kings College London) on the limitations and recommend it highly enough. applications of computational cardiac models. A major limitation highlighted was the use of data collected on Following this meeting the idea arose to set up an email list cell models from a range of species to parameterise a to maintain the professional and personal contacts made model of a single species. This is something that needs to in Oxford. Dr Richard Walton (Hôpital Xavier-Arnozan, be addressed especially with many research centres now France) has established a database of attendees and their moving cardiac models into a clinical context with the aim of research interests and we hope this will enable us to creating personalised patient models. continue the dialogue we started during the summer school. Friday’s lectures were followed by the final discussion David Broadbent forum of the Summer School, with the speakers on the day Trainee Clinical Scientist, Leeds Teaching Hospitals, UK forming the panel. One of the major themes to come out Cristoph Kolbistsch, Matthew Sinclair of the discussion was the benefit of sharing information and Imaging Sciences and Biomedical Engineering, Kings College tools between and across research groups and disciplines. London, UK Such actions will make for better understanding and clearer communication of the needs and limitations of both Ricardo Petraco modellers and clinicians, helping to facilitate the translational The International Centre for Circulatory Health and National work that we are aiming to produce together. Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London, UK

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Meeting reports Medical Physics and Engineering Conference Oxford, UK, 10-12th September 2012

The inspirational city of Oxford played many of us with more than our lunch Cocker et al. described the scatter host to the 2012 Medical Physics and to digest. The younger members of model incorporated in the Standard Engineering Conference (MPEC). the audience left for the break with Attenuation Rate post-processing The Examination Schools provided a many questions in their heads: What is algorithm used in mammography stunning venue for the conference, life all about? How does wave-particle to calculate a normalised image of and delegates were afforded the duality link to Schrödinger’s cat? And tissue density, and compared it to true ‘Oxford Experience’ by staying what is an overhead projector? experimental results. A verification of in one of the three available college the use of RIS data for the purposes A whole range of scientific accommodations. Not only did this of patient dose audits was carried sessions followed, with sessions in mean that delegates were able to out by IRS Limited, and the results Radiotherapy, Imaging and Engineering explore the spectacular surroundings showed a correlation of above 0.85 running concurrently. Posters were of the colleges, but also that the walk for RIS/DICOM data. Gregory et al. on display throughout the meeting, home from the pub in the evening was demonstrated the use of a VB macro providing an interesting read between a short one. to perform a verification check of presentation sessions. The conference imported treatment plans between Arranged in partnership with the also provided a perfect opportunity two software systems. Another use IPEM Biennial Radiotherapy Physics for trainees to find their feet on in Radiotherapy for bespoke software meeting, the BNMS autumn meeting, the presentation stage in a friendly was presented by Horsfield et al; their EFOMP, and the IoP, the conference informal environment, with several group developed a Matlab program provided a great opportunity to meet dedicated trainee sessions throughout to collect and process Dynalogs, with colleagues, many of whom had the meeting. The organisers further which include large amounts of data travelled from far and wide. A full showed their dedication to the including planned and actual MLC and varied programme offered talking development of trainees by including positions, beam state, and geometrical points for discussions throughout the a number of teaching sessions in the information. Finally, Budgell et al. three days. programme – although this meant an described the use of in-house database early start! If the opportunity to finally The meeting was opened by Dame software employed in their daily linac get your head round the minefield of Fiona Caldicott. The first invited QC programme, including the benefits statistics wasn’t reason enough to get speaker was Professor Sir Muir Gray, and obstacles encountered. out of bed in the morning, then the CBE, who gave a thought-provoking option of learning about Image Analysis The conference was, of course, talk on “The Third Healthcare from the brains behind IQWorks was rounded off by a well-organised social Revolution”. This was followed by the an alternative option. programme, including a reception in Woolmer Lecture, in which Professor the University Museum of Natural Lionel Tarassenko drew from his There was one session organised History, and a conference dinner held previous experience in Rolls Royce by the IoP, under the heading of in the magnificent New College dining to show that concepts developed “Computational Modelling and room. No scientific meeting would for safety-critical systems such as jet Analysis”. Work covering a wide range be complete without a trip to the pub; engines could be used to improve of topics was presented, demonstrating in this case delegates had the added healthcare. Preventative maintenance the importance of computational and challenge of trying to find it, but it was and physiology-driven analysis of vital programming skills in Medical Physics worth it in the end. signs, combined with novel monitoring and Engineering. Carpanen et al. technology, were shown to have a showed how their group used MRI Patrice Burke positive effect on patient care. The datasets to produce a 3D model of Diagnostic Imaging Medical Physicist, HPA Lecture, delivered by Professor the knee to investigate the relationship Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust, UK Sir Roger Penrose, included colourful between partial meniscectomy size and cats and questions on artificial location with corresponding knee joint intelligence and consciousness, leaving contact stress during dynamic loading.

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Meeting reports Physics in Healthcare IOP, London, 31st October 2012

An exciting one-day meeting was organised by the Applied of thermal imaging including the use of this technique Physics and Technology Division of the Institute of in peripheral vascular disease, rheumatology and sports Physics, including the Medical Physics Group. Around forty medicine. Current developments, e.g. interest in fever participants, mainly from UK universities but also including detection especially in airport screening during a pandemic representatives from industry and government bodies, threat, were also discussed. gathered to hear talks on a wide range of topics. G. Battaglia (University of Sheffield), in a presentation A. C. Fisher (University of Liverpool), on behalf of the on the physics of drug delivery – which he reassured the Academy for Healthcare Science, began the proceedings audience, had nothing to do with narcotic trafficking! - with a presentation entitled “A new generation of medical gave a fascinating account of the revolution taking place in physicists: Education, training and career aspirations” in designing target-specific carriers for the active agent. The which the far-reaching implications of the Modernising presentation included an introduction to “molecular bionics”, Scientific Careers initiative were discussed. This was a combination of chemistry and soft matter physics used to followed by a survey of the current status and future overcome the biological barriers to effective drug delivery. prospects of radiation oncology (N. Burnet, University New tools emerging from chemistry, physics, and biology of Cambridge) from a clinician’s perspective. With over are being used to better engineer new carriers which can be 90,000 patients undergoing radiotherapy each year in the integrated at much earlier stages of drug development and in UK, the importance and cost-effectiveness of this type of some cases even guide the drug discovery process itself. treatment was pointed out. The crucial role of physicists in providing solutions to the problems identified in the clinic was discussed in the context of current developments such “lively discussions and exchanges of as multi-modal imaging and image-guided radiotherapy. The need for a multi-disciplinary approach was also emphasised. ideas took place at every opportunity The clinical theme of the morning session continued during the meeting and most of us with further talks on recent technology developments in left much better informed and highly medical imaging originating in industry (D. Lewis, CERN), the challenge for physics posed by cancer (K. Peach, inspired” University of Oxford) and MeV ion beam therapy (K. Kirkby, University of Surrey). The latter work reported the development of a nanobeam capable of irradiating individual From “good guys” straight to “bad guys”. P. Stoodley cells in culture with precisely counted numbers of ions to (University of Southampton) gave a frightening account of sub-micron precision. Such a system allows the study of bacterial biofilms infections. Millions of years of adaptation cellular response to radiation and the way in which DNA is have provided microbes the ability to colonise manufactured damaged and repaired. Combined response of radiation with surfaces, as well as biological materials such as skin, teeth, chemo-therapeutic agents can also be studied in this way, as and muscle and bone. Biofilm formation protects bacteria can the targeting of individual organelles in order to observe, from predation and environmental stresses, and in more in real time, the DNA damage as it occurs. recent times antibiotics, biocides and the immune system. Although biofilms are often only a few tens of microns thick The afternoon session was mainly concerned with physics they present tremendous problems in industry, shipping at cellular and sub-cellular level. G. Reilly (University of and human health. Biofilms can cause material degradation Sheffield) discussed the relevance of mechanobiology to (corrosion), reduced heat transfer, increased pressure drop, regenerative medicine, examining the mechanisms by which performance loss and contamination of process streams. cells orientate their matrix under the influence of intrinsic Biofilms in water distribution and cooling tower systems can and external mechanical forces. These considerations harbour pathogens with important consequences for public form the basis for creating mechanically stable tissues for health. In medicine, biofilms growing on artificial implants applications in regenerative medicine. F. Ring (University can result in chronic infections which can be highly tolerant of Glamorgan) then reviewed the clinical applications to antibiotics and difficult to diagnose through imaging or

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Meeting reports International Society for Therapeutic Ultrasound Shanghai, China, 12-15th May 2013 ...continued from p9 conventional clinical culturing. The High Intensity Focused Ultrasound venue was the Regal International East speaker examined the challenges (HIFU) or ultrasounds hyperthermia as Asia Hotel, one of Shanghai’s leading associated with preventing, detecting, it was once called has been of interest hotels and there was organisational and treating biofilm infections with for very many years. Therapy using support from Shanghai Jiao Tong illustrative clinical case studies. ultrasound predates imaging although University. issues particularly with dosimetry have There were 12 invited talks, including The final talk of the day was a whistle- limited its uptake. The main country Gail ter Haar delivering the Fry stop tour of the history of medical of development has been China with Lecture. There was a small poster imaging “from Bertha’s hand to CT significant interest from the USA. Apart session (~ 50) and the meeting and MRI combinations” presented by from a few centres there has been very was surprisingly well supported by B. Edwards (The Gordon Museum little application in the UK. of Pathology, King’s College London). manufacturers of components as well It reminded us all what a long way Advantages are its non-ionising nature as complete systems. Many recurring medical physics has come in 118 years and the fact it can be combined issues continue to be developed additively with other therapies but such as dosimetry, bone sparing, and since Roentgen noticed that mysterious there remain many challenges. The fact organ movement. Others are seeing glow in his laboratory. that China is such a centre of activity in accelerating development, particularly In addition to the oral presentations, this field made ISTU 2013 organised by non thermal effects often combined ten posters on diverse topics from the International Society for Therapy with bubbles using cavitation or mathematical modelling and numerical Ultrasound in Shanghai particularly targeted drugs. The clinical studies analysis to technological advances in interesting. As I was already going to session concentrated on liver, uterine radiation detectors and optics were Shanghai to teach at the East China fibroids and immune response. Some on display during the meeting. Lively University of Science and Technology novel sources especially for dedicated discussions and exchanges of ideas I was able to attend. sites were shown. took place at every opportunity during ISTU is a fairly small conference with a The proceedings of the conference the meeting and most of us left much tight knit community. As a developing will be produced later in the year. better informed and highly inspired. A modality there is much exciting work ISTU continues to be a friendly and very successful meeting indeed! to do and most of the founders of the vibrate conference for those working Dareyoush Rassi society are still active and attend. The in this still developing field. In 2014 the College of Human and Health Sciences, delegates were mostly from China and conference will be held in Las Vegas Swansea Univeristy USA but with representation from all 2–5th April. over the world. Papers were spread Geo A Corner over 3 days with parallel sessions Ninewells Hospital, Dundee running for most of the time. The

Educational resource SINAPSE (The Scottish Imaging Network: a Platform The modules are reasonably and individually priced at £9.95 for Scientific Excellence, http://www.sinapse.ac.uk/) is + VAT for 12 months access. They cover: MRI, PET and a network drawing on the expertise of six of Scotland SPECT, CT, ultrasound and electrophysiology. At the end of Universities (Aberdeen, Dundee, Edinburgh, Glasgow, each module is an assessment and on successful completion St. Andrews and Stirling) along with the NHS associations of a certificate can be issued for CPD records. each. It supports and funds research on development in all Geo A Corner medical imaging specialities and adds strength by pooling the Ninewells Hospital, Dundee combined resources of the separate establishments. The group have recently developed an on line program of interactive tutorials for the different modalities (https://www.sinapsecpd.org/). These modules are aimed at the non specialist medical worker or public including the apprehensive patient.

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Journal spotlight Physica Medica

Contributions on other topics related worked-through practical examples, and to applications of Physics to Biology and concludes with thoughts on advantages Medicine and in particular related to and disadvantages of IR methods. new emerging fields such as Molecular Radiochromic film dosimetry: Past, Imaging, Hadron therapy, System biology, present, and future, Devic (2011) Phys Nanoparticles and Nanotechnologies are Med, 27 (3), 122-134. encouraged. This comprehensive review article Recent highlights summarises developments in GAFCHROMICTM film models for use The top 5 most cited articles from the last in dosimetric assessment in the field of two years are: radiation therapy. Film dosimetry is used Accuracy of real-time MR for treatment verification and quality temperature mapping in the brain: A assurance – this review summarises comparison of fast sequences, Kickhefel developments of these models through et al. (2010) Phys Med, 26 (4), 192-201. improvements in their sensitivity and A comparison was made of three fast uniformity as 2-dimensional detectors. imaging sequences for real-time MR Their most important characteristics as thermography: gradient echo, segmented well as their limitations are discussed, echo planar imaging (EPI) and single while new application areas are also Background shot EPI, each mapping the temperature covered. Physica Medica: European Journal of using the proton resonant frequency Analytical theory for the fluence, Medical Physics (www.physicamedica.com) is technique. The single shot EPI approach planar fluence, energy fluence, planar the official journal of the Associazione was found to produce the best high energy fluence and absorbed dose of Italiana di Fisica Medica (AIFM), the temperature stability, with high temporal primary particles and their fragments European Federation of Organisations and spatial resolution, and was found to in broad therapeutic light ion beams, for Medical Physics (EFOMP), the Irish be fast, robust and accurate enough for Kempe and Brahme (2010) Phys Med, 26 Association of Physicists in Medicine monitoring temperature during thermal (1), 6-16. therapy. (IAMP), and the Société Française de In this analytical paper, an investigation Physique Médicale (SFPM). The Journal CT iterative reconstruction in image into the main mechanisms behind the has its roots in Europe but attracts space: A phantom study, Ghetti et al. build-up of absorbed dose and fluence submissions and readers from around (2012) Phys Med, 28 (2), 161-165. of primary particles and fragments in the world. The continuing increase in 7Li and 12C particle beams was carried high quality submissions over the last This paper addresses the use of iterative reconstruction methods for clinical X-ray out, with good agreement between the few years has allowed the Journal to analytical results obtained and Monte increase its publication frequency from CT imaging, widely used for SPECT/ PET but not so for CT. This phantom Carlo simulations and experimental data. 4 to 6 issues per year in 2013. Each The analytic expressions derived take issue includes review and research study focused on evaluating image quality metrics such as image noise, low contrast into account nuclear interactions, energy articles, book reviews, technical notes losses, range straggling and multiple and correspondence. The Journal also resolution, CT number linearity and accuracy, transverse and z-axis spatial scattering, and may have application for publishes EFOMP guidelines and policy fast analytical calculations of quantities statements. Papers in the first edition of resolution. The iterative reconstruction process was found to preserve spatial like mean energy, fluence, energy fluence, each volume are made freely available for absorbed dose, and LET. the course of the year. resolution, CT number accuracy and linearity, and to decrease image noise. Galileo Galilei Award Scope Its potential use in dose reduction while maintaining image quality was highlighted. This award is given by the Editors of The Journal provides an international the Journal every second year to the Iterative reconstruction methods in forum for research and reviews on the best paper published in the previous X-ray CT, Beister et al. (2012) Phys Med, following main topics: two years. The winner of the award for 28 (2), 94-108. • Medical Imaging 2011–2012 was: This very interesting review article • Radiation Therapy provides an excellent overview of the field CT iterative reconstruction in image • Radiation Protection of iterative reconstruction (IR) applied to space: A phantom study, Ghetti et al. (2012) Phys Med, 28 (2), 161-165. • Measuring Systems and Signal X-ray CT imaging. Increases in computing Processing power and a drive towards lower ionising The Journal is indexed by all the major radiation doses is motivating progress indexing services including Medline / • Education and training in Medical in this direction. The article provides PubMed, Science Citation Index and Physics an overview of the main IR algorithmic Scopus. • Professional issues in Medical Physics. concepts in use today, with some ...continued on p12 11 IOP y Medical Physics Group

...continued from p11 Notable figures for 2012/13 Impact Factor (Journal Citation Reports® published by Proportion of articles from UK authors (2012) 4.6% Thomson Reuters, 2012) 1.068 Proportion of articles from EU authors (2012) 65% Publication times (averages YTD 2013) Articles published per year (2012) 50 Receipt to first decision 7.4 weeks Articles published per year est. 2013 66 Accept to first published online DOI citable 3.4 weeks Articles downloaded per year (2012) 35,000+ Acceptance rate (YTD 2013) 35% First issue 1984

Andrew J Fagan Centre for Advanced Medical Imaging (CAMI), SJH/TCD, Dublin Upcoming meeting Committee

What is on the horizon? – New techniques Dimitra Darambara (chair) at the International Conference on Medical London Physics [email protected] George Corner Brighton International Centre, UK Dundee Wednesday 4th September 2013 9am-12pm David Eaton (secretary and co-newsletter) http://www.icmp2013.org/ London A multidisciplinary session organised by the Medical Physics Group [email protected] at the annual medical physics meeting for the UK. This year the Seán Cournane conference sees physicists from around the world gather for the Dublin 50th anniversary of the foundation of the International Organisation Andrew Fagan for Medical Physics (IOMP), and the UK conference joins with the Dublin triennial ICMP, so expect a big crowd. Karen Hampson Speakers in this session include: (co-newsletter) • Mike Partridge (Oxford) – Future of imaging for radiotherapy Bradford • Karen Hampson (Bradford) – Adaptive optics in vision research Rollo Moore • Chris Dunsby (London) – Fluorescence spectroscopy London • Dimitra Darambara (London) – Multi-spectral x-ray imaging Dareyoush Rassi (treasurer) • Feng Wu (Oxford) – Therapeutic ultrasound Swansea Gemma Roberts Edinburgh This newsletter is also available on the web and in larger Martin Robinson print sizes York The contents of this newsletter do not necessarily Nick Stone* represent the views or policies of the Institute of Physics, except Exeter where explicitly stated. *representing the The Institute of Physics, 76 Portland Place, W1B 1NT, UK. Institute of Physics and Tel: 020 7470 4800 Engineering in Medicine Fax: 020 7470 4848 (www.ipem.ac.uk)

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