Supporting the NHS

NPL provided services to 52 NHS trusts and cancer centres in 2022. Over 98% of the jobs delivered for these were related to assuring safe and accurate delivery of radiotherapy through access to NPL's radioactivity standards and expertise in calibration.

Leaders and aspiring leaders in healthcare science

Cancer Grand Challenge: Mapping cancer

In its penultimate year the ROSETTA Cancer Grand Challenge consortium, led by NPL's Professor Josephine Bunch, continued to build on previous research identifying phenotypic features of tumours and the localised tumour environment for breast, glioblastoma, colorectal and pancreatic cancers. These insights to tumour metabolism have the potential to deliver new targets for the diagnosis, treatment and understanding prognosis in key cancers. Highlights of the teams work over the past 6 years include:

• Determination of three metabolic sub types of Glioblastoma (GBM), showing territories that are sufficiently large as to be imaging in the clinic using 2H MRI
• Identifying vitamin B5 as a targetable biomarker of increased oxidative metabolism associated with increased MYC gene amplified tumours in breast
• Demonstration of real-time diagnosis of PIK3CA mutant breast tumours using the iKnife technology (Koundouros et al., Cell, 2020)
• Identifying the amino acid transporter SLC7A5 as a new target for both KRAS mutant colorectal cancer and pancreatic cancer (Najumudeen et al, Nat. Genetics, 2021) and the methionine cycle as a vulnerability in colorectal cancer (Vande Voorde et al, Nat. Metabolism, 2023)
• Investigating metabolic mechanisms in drug resistance, showing sub-type stratification - including BRAF, HRAS, KRAS, PIK3CA and NRAS mutations
• Innovating new technologies for patient screening, ex vivo analysis and surgical interventions.

The ROSETTA consortium has shown that they can map metabolic networks of tumours and the tumour microenvironment to correlate with underlying genetic alterations. In summary, Rosetta has provided compelling evidence that metabolic imaging can be used to segment and therapeutically target cancer.

Cancer Grand Challenges Rosetta Project

Characterising hydrogels for personalised cancer treatment with PearBio

NPL used scanning electron microscopy and rheology to characterise and provide structural information on PearBio’s novel hydrogels which can be used as cell scaffolds for tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. The results contributed to an FDA pre-submission towards the accreditation of the PearBio platform and clinical workflow.  

“Overall, the projected carried out with NPL helped the advancement of our technology towards our goal and commitment of stopping the spread of cancer." - Gaston Primo- Scientist at PearBio

Read our characterising hydrogels case study

Significantly improving breast cancer outcomes

An innovative ultrasonic detection technique, which will aid earlier diagnosis and treatment of cancer and help manufacturers develop better products, has been demonstrated with the first in-person measurements of breast tissue. In comparison to X-ray mammography, this new technology is less invasive, more comfortable and completely safe as it eliminates risks associated with exposure to ionising radiation.

Read our innovative ultrasonic news story

Awarded for impact in the field of surface analysis

Gustavo Trindade, Senior Research Scientist was awarded the Vickerman Prize by the UK Surface Analysis Forum for his work in the National Centre of Excellence in Mass Spectrometry Imaging and OrbiSIMS metrology which is anticipated to have a major impact in the field of surface analysis.

Read more about our impact in surface analysis

New subcellular imaging to support pharmaceutical innovation

NPL has developed a new NanoSIMS imaging technique to reduce attrition in drug development. This enables drug developers to pinpoint which drugs permeate the blood-brain barrier more efficiently. This will help to speed up the development of more feasible drugs and enable resources to be directed to the most promising candidates, reducing costs and speeding up the process.

Read our NanoSIMS imaging case study

UK Telecoms Lab to be operated by NPL

NPL will lead the state-of-the-art UK Telecoms Lab (UKTL) on behalf of the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS). UKTL will provide independent test and evaluation capability and enhance confidence in the resilience and security of telecommunication systems that will be deployed in the UK. Recruitment is already underway providing 20 skilled local jobs in Solihull and the surrounding areas.

Read about the state-of-the-art UK Telecoms Lab (UKTL)

Marco Schioppo received the young scientist award for contributions to ultrastable lasers

Marco Schioppo, Senior Research Scientist received the Executive Committee of the European Frequency and Time Forum (EFTF) Young Scientist Award, for his contributions to ultrastable lasers and measurement precision in optical frequency metrology, which have impacted the characterisation of optical atomic clocks.

Read more about Marco Schioppo

Podcast: What does time mean for business?

Leon Lobo, Head of the National Timing Centre, and Ali Ashkhasi, Senior Research Scientist, spoke on the Telehouse: Making Connections podcast. They discussed the role of time-as-a-service, how businesses can leverage this and how organisations are synchronising and accurately timestamping events.

Listen to the podcast

Learn how resilient time will enable the evolution of the digital infrastructure for the UK

NTC released The Introduction to Time and Frequency Metrology training course to address the skills gap within the industry and assist new career entrants develop time and frequency knowledge. The course attracted more than 400 enrolments improving skills and expertise for UK industry.

Pioneering reliable 5G infrastructure at sea with JET Connectivity

Improving the communications infrastructure and enabling high-speed 5G connectivity at sea is vital for the collection and transmission of data required by the marine industry. NPL is collaborating with JET Connectivity to develop high-speed 5G connectivity at sea to improve the communications infrastructure particularly in areas that currently have no GNSS coverage. This will help develop reliable connectivity for offshore teams and enable real-time information.   

Read our 5G connectivity news story