Research for the School of Radiology

We aim to align our research activity to the key priorities for Diagnostic Imaging and Radiotherapy nationally

Welcome to the Research Hub for the School of Radiology

As a relatively new School we are in the process of expanding our research profile following years of experience in postgraduate research in the School of Medical Ultrasound. We aim to align our research activity to the key priorities for Diagnostic Imaging and Radiotherapy nationally:

  • Delivering technical innovation through enhancing image quality and dose optimisation in digital radiography using dose reference levels and artificial intelligence
  • Enhancing patient and public experience through a better understanding of patients’ perceptions and priorities for the clinical service provided by radiographers within clinical imaging and radiotherapy, with a particular focus on outcomes and survivorship

And in education and training, the emphasis is twofold:

  • By evolving our approaches to curriculum design supported by simulation-based education and assessment (SBEA) we can meet the challenges of new technologies and techniques by promoting a research culture and infrastructure from undergraduate level to Consultant level practice.

Read more from our latest research below

Risk of stochastic effects and radiation doses optimisation

Chanchal Kaushik

Contribution of radiation doses from medical X-ray examination to collective dose is significant. The aim of the study was to assess radiation doses in common digital radiographic examinations and estimate effective doses. Entrance surface air kerma (ESAK) was calculated in chest PA, cervical AP/Lat, abdomen AP, lumbar AP/Lat and pelvis AP. The results reinforce the need for radiation protection optimization, improving examination techniques and appropriate use of automatic exposure control in digital radiography.

Read the full report

Kerma area product monitoring and establishing DRLs

Chanchal Kaushik

The application of the kerma-area product (PKA) meter is increased rapidly in dosimetry. This study presents measurements of PKA in adherence to the International Atomic Energy Agency. Local DRLs were suggested (in India) and compared. The PKA results were lower than the UK, and two studies in Greece by Metaxas et al. except for chest PA, cervical spine AP and lumbar spine LAT, showed the need for further optimization.

Read the full report 

Becoming Virtually Real

Andrew Wiliams & Shelley Blane

Read an educational note from Andrew Williams and Shelley Blane outlining early experiences of using VERT for assessment at AECC University College. “Becoming virtually real: using the Virtual Environment for Radiotherapy Training (VERT™) platform for the summative assessment of performance in a palliative radiotherapy treatment technique” was published in the Journal of radiotherapy in Practice on Thursday 3rd March 2022.

Read the full report

Evaluation of a studio approach to learning to lead in clinical practice

Andrew Williams & Farrah Elsaghir

This 3-year longitudinal study will determine how different learning and teaching approaches may contribute to the understanding and application of the NHS Clinical Leadership Framework within an undergraduate, pre-registration education programme in Radiography. 

Currently midway through its second year, the project has been designed to evaluate the impact of a scenario-based peer to peer learning model (known as a studio approach) with the aim of informing the development of flexible physical and digital learning resources.

 

 

Meet the team

Research Lead: Dr Andrew Williams

Dr Andrew Williams is the research lead for the School of Radiology. Andrews’s role is to support the radiography course teams in their research activities and to develop the Schools research strategy through collaboration with industry and clinical partners. 

His own research interests arise from his clinical and academic background in radiotherapy and include patient experience and safety and curriculum development aligned to the scholarship of learning and teaching using methods such as the flipped classroom and project based learning. His Doctoral research, completed in 2020, investigated the role of the virtual environment for radiotherapy training (VERT™) in the development of 3-D spatial visualisation skills of learners in complex clinical environments. Andrew is currently focusing his attention on the role of simulated and virtual environments such as VERT™ in the development and assessment of clinical and decision making skills in complex settings with Shelley Blane and “Learning to lead in pre-registration radiography programmes” with Farrah Elsaghir.

Find out more

Members

  • Phillip Hume

  • Shelley Blane

  • Matthew Southam

  • Lesley Davies

  • Farrah Elsaghir

  • Chanchal Kaushik

  • Megan Lines

  • Trevor Wing

Get involved

If you are interested in the work we are doing, if you wish to collaborate or discuss our research please get in touch.

get in touch

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