I am the lead for the NCITA MR Core Lab. Providing quality management support for multi-centre trials and studies using quantitative MR imaging biomarkers to aid clinical translation. NCITA is a network of medical imaging experts and scientists building a unified infrastructure for discovery, validation and adoption of cancer imaging biomarkers into clinical trials and the NHS. I am also a Research Fellow with expertise in a range of quantitative MRI acquistion and analysis methods and a member of the Quantitative Biomedical Imaging laboratory at the University of Manchester.

I completed my PhD entitled 'Electron and molecular dynamics using muon spin research' under the guidance of Upali Jayasooriya at the University of East Anglia. As chemists working in the field of spin physics, we probed the chemical interactions of the the muon with a range of condensed matter - from DNA to metallocenes. We carried out experiments at ISIS, Rutherford Appleton Laboratories near Oxford and at the Paul Scherrer Institute in Switzerland. 

On completing my PhD I moved to Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand to work with Paul Callaghan. I worked with 2D Laplace Inversion methods for correlating diffusion and relaxation NMR signals.

I moved back to the UK and joined Gareth Morris and Risto Kaupinnen in the School of Chemistry at the Univeristy of Manchester, developing NMR magnetization transfer methods for application in pH imaging. 

I then joined the group of Geoff Parker in the Centre for Imaging Sciences. During that time I worked closely with the University of Manchester-AstraZeneca Strategic Alliance in Biomedical Imaging, the Quantitative Imaging Laboratory (QBI) and the Unit of Neuroimaging and Tractography (UNIT).

Later I began working with Daniela Montaldi in the Division of Neuroscience and Experimental Psychology on a Wellcome Trust funded programme grant focused on imaging the medial temporal lobe for memory-related research.

More recently I worked with Jo Naish on a range of MRI-related research in the Division of Cardiovascular Sciences and with the Division of Developmental Biology & Medicine at St Mary's hospital.

This journey, through a broad range of spin resonance research (muons, NMR and MRI), has developed my understanding not only of MR physics and the physiological information it can reveal, but also how it can be used to improve patient care.  My focus is now on the clinical translation of quantitative MR imaging biomarkers.

My main research interests in the developments and validation of novel Magnetic Resonance Imaging methods and biomarkers and their translation to the clinic.

Previous projects include:

- Oxygen-enhanced MRI of the placenta

- Multi-parametric MRI of living kidney donors (PhD supervisor)

- Imaging the medial temporal lobe for memory research

- The development of biomimetic phantoms to mimic brain, cardiac and tumour tissue

- Ventilation and perfusion imaging of the lung 

- Cartoid artery MR imaging  

- Non-invasive tumour cell size and packing density measurements using diffusion MRI (PhD supervisor)

- Pharmacokinetic imaging: Evaluation of the use of imaging agents for drug transporter pre-clinical and clinical interaction studies (PhD supervisor)

- Dynamic contrast-enhanced imaging in tumours

Lecturer (2012-2022) - Medical Imaging MSc, Centre of Imaging Sciences, UoM

Module co-organiser (2016) - Medical Imaging MSc, Centre of Imaging Sciences, UoM

Lecturer (2012-2013) - Neuroimaging for Clinical & Cognitive Neuroscience MSc, School of Psychological Sciences, UoM

Evidence-based learning tutor (2010–2013) - Pre-medicine and dentistry course, Faculty of Medical and Human Sciences, UoM

James O'Connor

Jo Naish 

Edward Johnstone

Geoff Parker 

Fenglei Zhou 

Daniela Montaldi

Member of the International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine.
Member of the British Chapter of the International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine.

Imaging science

Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Nuclear Magnetic Resonance

Muon spin relaxation/rotation  

I have a 4-year Master of Chemistry degree and PhD from the University of East Anglia

Managing at Manchester for Researchers - a development programme recognised by the Institute of Leadership and Management (ILM).

Project Management for Researchers