Medical Applications
Research into medical and radiation biology at the Dalton Nuclear Institute covers the following three areas:
- Biology
- Radiation epidemiology and risk assessment
- Nuclear medical technology
Biology:
The Geomicrobiology group of the Williamson Research Centre for Molecular Environmental Science (housed in the School of Earth Atmospheric and Environmental Sciences) has an established track record studying microbial interactions with radioactive elements. Established in 2001, as part of the Williamson Research Centre for Molecular Environmental Science (£3.5 UK Joint Infrastructure Fund investment), the group is lead by Prof Jon Lloyd and conducts multidisciplinary research into the mechanisms and environmental impact of metal biotransformations. A multidisciplinary approach is used, combining the techniques of microbiology, biochemistry, molecular biology, mineralogy, surface science, computation and spectroscopy.
Current funding is greater than £3 million (EPSRC, NERC, US-DOE, US-NSF, EC). The group has produced more than 60 publications in this area in recent years, many focusing on the biogeochemical cycling of actinides and fission products, and has excellent collaborative links with other specialist laboratories in the US, Europe and Japan. Both fundamental and applied (biotechnological) projects are ongoing, including work on the bioremediation of sites contaminated with radioactive waste in the US and UK.
www.seaes.manchester.ac.uk/research/groups/environmental
Radiation epidemiology and risk assessment
Professor Richard Wakeford has made significant contributions to the assessment of the risks to health posed by exposure to ionising radiation, especially low-level exposures. His particular expertise is in radiation epidemiology, notably in utero, preconceptional, occupational and environmental exposures and cancer “clusters”. He has sat on national and international expert groups, written extensively on the subject (including many papers in the peer-reviewed literature), and is currently Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Radiological Protection. Richard also provides expert analysis and information to the national press on relevant issues, including during the Fukushima nuclear power station event in Japan in March 2011.
For further information please contact
Prof Richard Wakeford
Email: richard.wakeford@manchester.ac.uk
Nuclear Medical Technology:
Not all the technology challenges faced by the nuclear industry require nuclear-specific solutions. There are drivers and cost benefits to identifying technologies from other sectors that can be reconfigured for nuclear applications. Many sectors are candidates, with medical being particularly strong.
The University of Manchester has world leading strengths in medical imaging. To leverage this expertise, the Dalton Nuclear Institute has initiated studies to examine the interface between the nuclear fission and medical imaging technology communities for non-invasive/non-destructive monitoring. Towards this end the Dalton Nuclear Institute organised a workshop searching for dual use technologies which involved 11 medical schools and research groups from around the UK. The workshop concluded that there is clearly great potential for developing two-way technology transfer between the nuclear and medical sectors to the mutual benefit of both. The Dalton Nuclear Institute regards this as a flagship project in which it is taking the lead.
For further information please visit The University of Manchester Wolfson Molecular Imaging Centre website: www.mhs.manchester.ac.uk/imagingfacilities