Positron Emission Tomography Centre

About Us

About Us

The Newcastle Positron Emission Tomography (PET) - Magnetic Resonance (MR) Centre houses a hybrid PET-MR scanner (GE Signa 3 tesla). This scanner can acquire PET and MR images simultaneously and is used for clinical, academic and commercial research applications.

The PET-MR facility in Newcastle is currently out of use as a result of severe damage to the building where it was housed. 

A new building is now being designed to form an integrated clinical imaging research facility, comprising Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Positron Emission Tomography. The interface with Clinical Ageing Research and NHS clinics will help to co-ordinate access of patients, clinicians and multi-disiplinary scientists to novel non-invasive technologies.

Applications of Positron Emission Tomography (PET)

The PET-MRI scanner is simply two imaging machines together, with a single bed.  It is primarily for academic and commercial research applications. Rather than being restricted to routine diagnostic use, FDG-PET-MRI can be used in areas such as:

  • evaluation of new anti-cancer drugs
  • incorporation into radiotherapy planning
  • application to other disease types, such as ageing, neuroscience and cardiology
  • co-ordination with other functional and molecular imaging studies.
  • Convenience of two exams at once
  • Reduced radiation dose
  • Enhanced image quality
  • More comprehensive diagnosis
  • More structural detail than PET-CT, especially when imaging soft tissue.

Benefits of PET-MRI include:

  • Convenience of two exams at once
  • Reduced radiation dose
  • Enhanced image quality
  • More comprehensive diagnosis
  • More structural detail than PET-CT, especially when imaging soft tissue.

As new tracers become available, these will provide even more specific tools to investigate or diagnose a broad range of diseases. We will also be able to check whether new drugs are hitting the targets they have been designed for.


For any clinical or research enquiries contact: civi@newcastle.ac.uk