This content was kindly supported by Siemens Healthineers.
The University of Edinburgh has become the first institution in Scotland to install a photon-counting CT scanner.
The NAEOTOM Alpha with Quantum Technology, developed by Siemens Healthineers and jointly funded by the University and the British Heart Foundation (BHF), represents a step-change in imaging and is one of only a handful of its kind currently in operation in the UK.
The system will support the University’s cardiovascular and neurological research, providing ultra-high resolution and spectral imaging data to enhance precision in diagnosing and studying conditions affecting the heart, lungs, brain and blood vessels.
The scanner is expected to play a central role in advancing cardiovascular studies, including projects such as SCOT-HEART 2, a BHF-funded trial investigating how coronary CT angiography can help prevent heart attacks by identifying risk earlier than standard assessments. Its imaging capabilities will allow scientists to visualise the heart and blood vessels in greater detail, supporting research into early detection, risk assessment and disease progression.
Unlike conventional CT systems, which convert X-rays into visible light before processing, the NAEOTOM Alpha uses photon-counting detectors that capture and count individual X-ray photons directly. This enables the system to collect more information with each scan, producing images with finer detail and clearer contrast.
Researchers are expected to use this level of image detail to refine how complex cardiovascular and neurological conditions are visualised and measured, supporting studies that explore new imaging biomarkers, evaluate treatment responses and inform future clinical applications.
Michelle Williams, Professor of Cardiovascular Imaging at the University of Edinburgh, said: “This is the next generation of CT scanning. For the first time, we can see structures and processes in the body that were not previously visible. The ultra-high-resolution capabilities of the NAEOTOM Alpha will not only make existing diagnoses more accurate but also open entirely new avenues for discovery – transforming how we understand and study disease.”
Carl Smith, Business Area Lead for CT at Siemens Healthineers Great Britain and Ireland, said: “Photon-counting CT represents a fundamental shift in diagnostic imaging, delivering image clarity, richer data, and the potential to transform clinical decision making. This technology is about redefining the future of precision medicine. This is an exciting milestone, setting a benchmark for innovation that will influence future clinical practice across Scotland, the UK and internationally.”