History of Clinical Physics at Barts and The London
History of Clinical Physics at Barts and The London
Clinical physics and engineering support has been in existence for over sixty years at St Bartholomew's Hospital and The Royal London Hospital. During that time, research and development applied to the care and treatment of patients has always been an essential activity.
The Physics Department at St Bartholomew's Hospital was established by George Innes, MBE, who in 1936, together with one technician, Thomas Crichton, installed the first 1 MV x-ray unit to be used in the world for therapeutic purposes. Under his guidance, the department steadily expanded and undertook duties in the developing field of medical
radiation physics. Important advances were made in radiotherapy physics, nuclear medicine and radiation safety. After George Innes retired in 1970, Dr Charles Greatorex was appointed to take charge of the re-named Radiation Physics Department, with responsibilities for radiotherapy physics and radiation safety. Dr Greatorex left the department in 1974 and his post was filled by Dr William Liversage who had special interests in radiotherapy physics and radiobiology. During 1986 he retired and was succeeded by Dr David R White. In later years the department’s research and development work in imaging physics and radiation safety has been strengthened.
In 1964, Bernard Watson set up the Department of Medical Electronics and soon began an extensive and vigorous research programme covering many aspects of physiological measurement. While the development of diagnostic methods was the main activity, more recently the emphasis shifted towards therapy. Research, design and development were strengthened by the close relationship between the College and Hospital parts of the department. Much of the work was written up as PhD or MSc theses and many ex-students have gone on to make significant contributions in medical physics.
Overseeing all of the physics work at St Bartholomew's Hospital was Joseph Rotblat, Nobel Laureate Nobel Peace Prize, 1995, who was later Professor of Physics at the Medical College of St Bartholomew's Hospital from 1949-1976. In 1981, the department moved from offering an ad hoc instrument repair service to providing a comprehensive equipment management programme, supported by dedicated, trained technical and scientific staff. In 1994 this group merged with The Royal London Hospital's Medical Equipment Department to form Clinical Equipment Management, the largest section of the Clinical Physics Department.
The Medical Physics Department was established at The London Hospital in 1943 by Dr John Read. During his three years at The London, Dr Read continued his pioneering work in the field of x-ray dosimetry. In 1946 Dr Lloyd Kemp, OBE, became head of department and for the next twenty years built up the medical physics services to The London. His research interests continued the department's involvement in radiation dosimetry. His expertise resulted in the exceptional achievement of the discovery of errors in the primary UK and US measurement standards for which he received the prestigious Röntgen Prize. From 1966-1975 Dr Montague Cohen was head of department and the innovative development work on radiotherapy physics continued. In 1975 Dr Stanley Klevenhagen became Chief Physicist and specialised in the physics of electron dosimetry. He became the author of many key papers and books on the subject of radiation physics applied to radiotherapy.
The Physics and Medical Electronics/Equipment Management Departments at the two hospitals were merged into a single Clinical Physics Department in 1994 and Dr David White was appointed Chief Physicist.
In 2000 Dr. Malcolm Birch became Director and Research Lead of the Clinical Physics CAU.
At present the research work activities covers radiation physics, imaging, physiological measurements, tissue characterisation and medical device development. This work is undertaken by 3 full time funded post doctoral researchers, supported by 6 senior Clinical Scientists with research as part of their responsibilities. In addition 9 more junior Clinical Scientists and up to 4 trainees undertake supervised research as part of their professional development.
The research activities of Clinical Physics CAU are fully compatible with the aims of the Barts and The London NHS Trust and School of Medicine and Dentistry.
The Clinical Physics CAU is devoted to improving patient healthcare through the application of science to medicine.
Academic Health Sciences Centre
The Clinical Physics CAU will be fully supportive of the organisations application to become an AHSC and see this endeavour as being fundamental to continuing our success as a centre of excellence in research. We have a well established collaborative relationship with our colleagues at UCL and GOSH/ICH that has resulted in several jointly held grants, shared scientific posts and high quality research output.
Research Capacity and Support
The CAU will continue to help build the research capacity of the Trust and Medical Dental School as follows.
- Research education; PhD and MD supervision of scientists and clinical fellows; provision of under- and post- graduate lecturing at MDS, QMUL and leading universities.
- Research facilities; modern laboratories in the BLT new build will encompass innovative techniques in imaging, physiological measurement and radiation dosimetry.
- Research networking and collaboration; the CAU acts as a facilitator of research by enabling scientific method and technology in one clinical area to find new applications across the organisations.
- Research support; the CAU will continue to provide support for clinical and scientific colleagues in such areas as medical device technology assessment for MHRA purposes, radiation dosimetry calculation in clinical trials, radiation protection advice and ethics approval guidance.
Notable Events
1936 Installation of 1 MV radiotherapy x-ray unit, the first megavoltage unit in the world to be used for treatment purposes.
1956 Discovery of errors in UK primary radiation measurement standards.
1957 Introduction of film badge personnel monitoring services.
1960 Development of lead compensators for radiotherapy treatments.
1961 Installation of 15 MeV linear accelerator for x-ray and electron treatments.
1962 First cobalt-60 eye applicators developed for the treatment of retinoblastoma.
1969 Initial work on tissue substitutes and phantoms.
Processing of electroencephalogram by minicomputer.
Measurement of the urethral pressure profile.
1970 Vectorcardiology analog computer developed.
1972 Alimentary pH profile measured by radio-telemetry capsule.
1980 Total body irradiations (TBI) initiated.
1986 Real-time analysis of intra-cardiac signals.
1987 Introduction of stereotactic brain treatments.
1993 Publication of The Physics and Dosimetry of Therapy Electron Beams.
1995 Study of nuclear magnetic resonance characterisation of thyroid and breast tissue completed.
1996 Study of velopharyngeal function in cleft palate patients completed.
1999 Study of tissue substitutes and phantoms in medical ultrasound published.
2002 NEAT government funded research into microwave of oesophagus cancer commenced.
EPSRC funded research into high frequency ultrasound imaging and associated phantoms.
IMRT research begun in Radiotherapy Physics.
2007 Development of DVT prevention device leading to commercial launch in 2010.
Home Office funding of commercial applications of low angle x-ray scattering.
2008 BLT Charity funding of IMRT gel dosimetry.
2009 NIHR Fellowship funding for oesophageal diagnostic medical device development.
2010 EPSRC funding of acoustic localisation of coronary stenosis.
BLT Charity funding of MRI of cleft palate and speech.
British Institute of Radiology awards made to staff:
The Röntgen Prize Stanley Melville Award
1936 Dr L A W Kemp 1960 Dr M Cohen
1973 Dr M Cohen 1975 Dr S Klevenhagen
1990 Dr P N Plowman and Physics Team The Barclay Prize
1995 Dr S Klevenhagen 1981 Dr D R White
