The University of Edinburgh has become the first institution in Scotland to install a photon-counting CT scanner from Siemens Healthineers. NAEOTOM Alpha with Quantum Technology, joint funded by the University and 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.
This advanced system will support the University’s cardiovascular and neurological research, providing ultra-high resolution and spectral imaging data that enhances precision in diagnosing and studying conditions affecting the heart, lungs, brain and blood vessels.
The new scanner will play a central role in advancing cardiovascular studies, including projects like SCOT-HEART 2, a BHF-funded trial investigating how coronary CT angiography can help prevent heart attacks by identifying risk earlier than standard assessments. The imaging capabilities of the scanner will enable scientists to visualise the heart and blood vessels in striking detail, supporting studies that aim to improve early detection, risk assessment and understanding of disease progression – strengthening the University’s capability to translate scientific discoveries into better care.
Unlike conventional CT systems, which convert X-rays into visible light before processing, the NAEOTOM Alpha from Siemens Healthineers has photon-counting detectors that capture and count each individual X-ray photon directly. This enables the scanner to collect more information with every scan, producing images with finer detail and clearer contrast than previously possible. Researchers will use this new 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 provide insights for future clinical applications.
Michelle Williams, professor of cardiovascular imaging at the University of Edinburgh states, “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 states, “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.”
