The Division of Medical Physics continues to give the academic lead in teaching and research in the application of physical sciences in relation to medicine for which it was established in 1948, by the Leeds Medical School. The Unit is sited in the Worsley Building of the University of Leeds with a small number of staff working at other Leeds hospitals. There is a close partnership with the Department of Medical Physics and Engineering in the Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust. The Unit staff take an active role in the undergraduate teaching programmes within the University Schools of Medicine, Physics and Healthcare Studies. On average 2 medical students are attached to the Unit each year while undertaking an intercalated B.Sc. in Clinical Sciences.

Medical Physics runs postgraduate taught programmes (M.Sc. and P.G.Dip.) in Medical Physics and Medical Imaging. This latter course is a mixture of distance learning and on-campus study and offers flexibility for learners who may undertake anything from a single module to a full M.Sc.

Medical Physics was returned in UoA1, Clinical Laboratory Sciences, which gained a 5 rating at RAE2001. The research interests of the Unit are diverse and multi-disciplinary, with local, national and international partners. Current areas of research include: a) X-Ray Imaging: assessment of state-of-the-art digital X-ray equipment in collaboration with Philips Medical Systems b) Non-ionising imaging including dynamic MRI imaging for cardiac applications, MRI image modeling, tissue characterisation for MRI musculo-skeletal investigations, studies of ultrasound scanner performance c) bone and body composition studies which includes research into bone density utilising state-of-the-art x-ray densitometries, ultrasound and bio-impedance equipment.

Publications