University of Bristol
Project role
The Medical Physics Research Centre is the principal contractor, co-ordinating the project and drawing on previous experience concerning EU projects within the Department. It has some 19 staff within both the University and the National Health Service (United Bristol Healthcare NHS Trust – UBHT) and is directly linked with a large Medical Physics Department with over 100 staff.
The Department has already been involved in a number of EU projects (MIDSTEP, DOLPHINS, TREMOR, FESTIVAL, CEPHOS and MARCH) proving its capacity to contribute to EU based research. We are investigating the placental transfer of radioactive-labelled xenobiotics in an in vitro human perfused placenta model and the biodistribution in an alternative laboratory model. A Berthold linear analyser and an LKB-Wallac automatic beta counter are used for imaging and measurement of radiolabelled material.
The Team
Dr Margaret Saunders, BSc, PhD, is a Senior Clinical Scientist and Research Associate within the Faculty of Medicine. She has extensive experience over the last 13 years in the fields of radiation protection and immunology, with respect to environmental radionuclide contaminants, investigation of T cell responses to antigens and tolerance mechanisms in the mucosal immune system. Currently Radiation Protection Supervisor within the Department. Responsibility for training of junior staff employed on the project and for overall management and co-ordination.
Dr Maria Palmer, BPharm, MSc, PhD, is the Director of Research & Development for UBHT and Principal Radiopharmacist. She has extensive experience over the last 23 years in the areas of nuclear medicine and biodistribution studies as well as wide management experience.
Professor Alan Preece, BSc, PhD, is Professorial Research Fellow in Medical Physics and Consultant Medical Physicist. He has some 26 years experience in radiation research, encompassing biodistribution studies, cancer immunology, and impact of environmental factors on physiological measurements and has extensive experience in issues involving research ethics.
Collectively, the team have been involved in the study of the placental transfer of both medical and environmentally important radionuclides over the previous 9 years with receipt of funding from the United Kingdom Co-ordinating Committee for cancer research (UKCCCR), National Radiological Protection Board (NRPB) and the Department of Health. This has extended our expertise in the biodistribution and placental transfer of radiolabelled material including beta-emitters requiring the use of liquid scintillation techniques and has facilitated the development of the in vitro human perfused placenta model for the study of the transfer of radionuclides. This expertise is highly relevant to our contribution to the project.
Other team members:
Jan Fox, Technician
Claire Salisbury, Clinical Scientist
Deirdre Chandler, Project Administrator
Site updated 24 March, 2004
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