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Loughborough to undertake breast cancer research

Posted on 12/06/2009

Loughborough University Website

Loughborough to undertake breast cancer research

Loughborough University has been awarded a grant for research into the potential early detection of breast tumours using microwave medical imaging.

The project, which is led by Dr Alex Feresidis, Senior Lecturer in the Department of Electronic and Electrical Engineering, will investigate microwave medical imaging as a potential low-cost alternative to current X-Ray techniques. It is hoped that these techniques will allow the earlier detection of breast tumours in cancer patients.

The research is cross-disciplinary and will be a collaboration between Dr Feresidis, Professor Alastair Gale from the Applied Vision Research Centre, University Hospitals Leicester and the University of Leicester. Professor Gale is no stranger to research into breast cancer and has been involved in the NHS Breast Screening Programme for over 20 years. He also has extensive experience in examining radiological performance in different medical imaging domains.

The research grant for the project, which totals £96,262, has been awarded jointly by the Medical Research Council (MRC), the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) and Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC).

Said Dr Feresidis: “The main aim of the project is to use a new microwave imaging technology and research to help diagnose breast tumours at the earliest possible opportunity.

“This is very much preliminary research in this new imaging technique in the UK and the project will run over the next 12 months. We hope to have some positive findings in a year’s time.”