Our Vision

Our vision is to make Propagation-based phase-contrast computed tomography (PB-CT) the reality of advanced breast & lung cancer diagnosis. Clinical translation of PB-CT for cancer diagnosis demands a diverse and multidisciplinary team of experts specialising in imaging physics, X-ray optics and instrumentation, clinical imaging, medicine, facility engineering and health economy. Our team has these skills and leads the world in clinical evaluation of PB-CT. Further, our Chief Investigators include world leaders in the science underpinning the technology, having played key roles in developing PB-CT and in continuing to refine it.

Our Aims

Our 5-year program of research has five complementary aims: 

Aim 1. Optimise breast and lung imaging conditions for the clinic.

We will determine optimal PB-CT imaging conditions to suit different patient sizes and tissue compositions. 

Aim 2. Conduct a large clinical trial to determine diagnostic efficacy of PB-CT.

Theoretical and computer simulation data for PB-CT has been accumulated, alongside experimental results utilising excised tissue samples. We will now verify the preliminary results in real-life human breast imaging. 

Aim 3. Establish a world-first PB-CT clinic for staging and treatment options.

We will establish a diagnostic imaging clinic at the Australian Synchrotron’s Imaging and Medical Beamline (IMBL). 

Aim 4. Develop a pathway for widespread clinical implementation using compact X-ray sources. Delivering PB-CT technology via commercially available compact X-ray sources will allow it to be widely integrated into specialist cancer care facilities across Australia and overseas. 

Aim 5. Conduct a clinical and health economic evaluation.

Throughout aims 1-4, we will continually assess clinical outcomes and cost-effectiveness of PB-CT in cancer diagnostic and screening settings.

Expected Outcomes

The IMPACT program will:

 (1) implement PB-CT clinically (at the Australian Synchrotron); 

(2) establish a pathway for widespread clinical implementation of PB-CT; 

(3) underpin future research for using PB-CT to study other body parts and organs (such as cartilage and cardiovascular), since current experimental evidence shows that PB-CT could revolutionise diagnosis in these areas.

(4) position Australia as the clinical and commercial hub for the next-generation of X-ray imaging technology.