Latest news with #UniversityOfAberdeen
BBC News
4 days ago
- Health
- BBC News
Aberdeen scanner study could improve brain tumour treatments
Scientists at the University of Aberdeen and NHS Grampian have secured funding to generate never-before-seen brain tumour images with the aim of improving of all glioblastoma patients die within 15 months of diagnosis even after surgery, radio and scans used to monitor a tumour's behaviour can be imprecise but it is hoped the Field Cycling Imaging (FCI) scanner - developed in Aberdeen - will give clinicians better £350,000 in support - from the Scottish government - will fund a trial which will be carried out on a group of 18 patients. MRI scanners were invented at the University of Aberdeen 50 years ago, but the new FCI scanner is the only one of its type used on patients anywhere in the can work at low and ultra-low magnetic fields which means it is capable of seeing how organs are affected by diseases in ways that were not previously can vary the strength of the magnetic field during the patient's scan - acting like multiple scanners and extracting more information about the new technology can detect tumours without having to inject dye into the body, which can be associated with kidney damage and allergic reactions in some team of doctors and scientists involved will scan glioblastoma patients undergoing chemotherapy after surgery and chemoradiotherapy. It is hoped the research will establish that, unlike conventional MRI scans, FCI can tell the difference between tumour growth and progression, and "pseudo-progression" which looks like a tumour but is not cancerous Anne Kiltie, chair in clinical oncology at the University of Aberdeen, who is leading the study, said: "We already have evidence that FCI is effective in detecting tumours in breast tissue and brain damage in stroke patients."Applying this exciting new technology to glioblastoma patients could give us a much more accurate and detailed picture of what is going on in their brain."If we can detect true tumour progression early, we can swap the patient to a potentially more beneficial type of chemotherapy."Providing certainty will also reduce anxiety for both patients and relatives and improve the quality of life of patients."Prof Kiltie's role at the university is fully funded by the charity Friends of ANCHOR through its Dream Big executive Sarah-Jane Hogg welcomed the "really promising" development and thanked donors and fundraisers for their support.
The Independent
4 days ago
- Health
- The Independent
‘Pioneering' technology to be used on UK brain tumour patients in world-first
A 'pioneering' new scanner developed by scientists in Scotland could significantly improve treatment for patients with glioblastoma, the most common and aggressive type of brain tumour. More than 3,000 new patients are diagnosed with glioblastoma in the UK each year, and half of all patients die within 15 months of diagnosis, even after extensive surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy. Scientists at the University of Aberdeen and NHS Grampian have been awarded £350,000 in funding from the Scottish Government to use field cycling imaging (FCI), a new technology derived from MRI, to track brain cancer spread by generating never-before-seen images. FCI is a new and specialist type of low-field MRI scan pioneered in Aberdeen and has already been found to be effective in detecting tumours in breast tissue and brain damage in stroke patients. It is hoped it can now be used to help brain tumour patients. MRI scanners were invented at the University of Aberdeen 50 years ago, but the new FCI scanner is the only one of its type used on patients anywhere in the world. The FCI derives from MRI but can work at low and ultra-low magnetic fields which means it is capable of seeing how organs are affected by diseases in ways that were previously not possible, and can vary the strength of the magnetic field during the patient's scan – acting like multiple scanners and extracting more information about the tissues. The new technology can detect tumours without having to inject dye into the body, which can be associated with kidney damage and allergic reactions in some patients. The team of doctors and scientists involved will scan glioblastoma patients undergoing chemotherapy after surgery and chemoradiotherapy. It is hoped the research will establish that, unlike conventional MRI scans, FCI can tell the difference between tumour growth and progression, and 'pseudo-progression' which looks like tumour but is not cancerous tissue, which could improve care and quality of life. Professor Anne Kiltie, Friends of ANCHOR chair in clinical oncology at the University of Aberdeen, who is leading the study, said: 'We already have evidence that FCI is effective in detecting tumours in breast tissue and brain damage in patients following a stroke. 'Applying this exciting new technology to glioblastoma patients could give us a much more accurate and detailed picture of what is going on in their brain. 'If we can detect true tumour progression early, we can swap the patient to a potentially more beneficial type of chemotherapy. 'Also, being able to verify that a patient has pseudo-progression will prevent effective chemotherapy being stopped too early, because it was thought that the tumour has progressed, thus worsening prognosis. 'Providing certainty will also reduce anxiety for both patients and relatives and improve the quality of life of patients. 'Importantly, having a reliable method to identify progressive disease will allow development and more precise evaluation of emerging potential treatments. This is of particular importance as patients currently have a limited choice of treatments for combating their cancer. 'Ultimately, this study and related future work will improve quality, effectiveness and healthcare cost-effectiveness in the treatment of glioblastoma patients across Scotland and beyond.' Sarah-Jane Hogg, chief executive at Friends of ANCHOR, said it was a 'really promising development and another example of the pioneering work coming out of the University of Aberdeen'. 'Professor Kiltie's role at the University is fully funded by Friends of ANCHOR through our Dream Big appeal, and our thanks go to our donors and fundraisers for the part they've played in supporting this work.' A spokesperson for The Brain Tumour Charity said: 'This pioneering technology is a promising step forward for people who have been diagnosed with the most aggressive type of brain tumour. 'It's positive news in contrast to the accounts we often hear about delays to diagnosis, limited treatment options, and the struggle to get vital innovations to the NHS front line. 'We welcome this, and The Brain Tumour Charity will continue working with clinicians and policymakers in Scotland – and the rest of the UK – to help bring advances to patients more quickly.'
BBC News
6 days ago
- Business
- BBC News
Aberdeen University plans to open new campus in India
The University of Aberdeen is planning to open a campus in India, it has institution has been granted permission by the Indian government to take forward proposals in Mumbai.A business case will go before the university's governing court for consideration next University of Strathclyde's Business School previously had an operation in India, but no longer has a presence. The new venture would initially offer courses in subjects including computing and data science, AI, business, and economics. The target launch date for the plans is September next year. Prof Siladitya Bhattacharya, vice-principal of global engagement at the university, said India had long been a "priority area" for its includes student recruitment and research added: "We are looking forward to collaborating with our Indian partners to bring this vision to life and further bolster ties between Scotland and India through education and research".Aberdeen is currently one of a number of Scottish universities looking at ways of tackling financial pressures.
