Expert users will be invited to apply to use the synchrotron’s extended imaging and medical beamline capabilities later this year in preparation for general usage in 2013. 

The imaging and medical beamline (IMBL) has received significant funding from the NHMRC and the Victorian State Government from 2009 to allow an extended facility to be constructed. This will provide unrivalled capabilities for phase-contrast imaging, tomosynthesis and computed tomography of biomedical samples and materials, and for micro-beam radiation therapy research.

The extended beamline’s 500 mm (horizontal) by 40 mm (vertical) x-ray beam in the satellite building will provide high-resolution imaging of cells, tissues and tumours, and enable cell tracking using markers. The beamline’s cardiovascular, lung and bone imaging capabilities will allow preclinical research program outcomes to be translated into clinical research with patients.

Left: the IMBL satellite building

Major building works have been completed with the long beamline tunnel, the satellite building and the near-beam surgery and preparation areas all now open. This year will see the completion of major beamline equipment including the transfer line, monochromator and superconducting wiggler.

The goal for 2012 is to offer the following research opportunities:

• two-dimensional imaging of live animals in hutch 3B
• fast computed tomography (CT) of small objects in hutch 2B
• micro-beam radiation therapy (MRT) in hutch 1B.

In order to prepare for user operations in 2013, the synchrotron will call for expert users in the third cycle of 2012. This will give the facility an opportunity to apply the necessary processes required for user operation and for the implementation of the Program Advisory Committee, including its interaction with the relevant ethics committees in assessing applications. We expect that experiments will be undertaken late in the 2012/3 cycle and that experiments and users will be awarded beamtime on the basis of how well they fit the commissioning plans for the beamline. Outcomes from those experiments will provide proof-of-principle of experimental techniques and we hope to be able to use these in grant applications in 2013.

The Australian Synchrotron has been consulting with the IMBL user community and calling for nominations for the inaugural Program Advisory Committee. If you would like to nominate someone please send names and institutional details to Fran Westmore (fran.westmore@synchrotron.org.au) by 11 May 2012.

The commencement of commissioning experiments this year will mark an important milestone for the staff and the build team at IMBL as well as its supporting committees, and will be a celebration of their hard work and vision.

If you’re unsure what an expert user is, or whether you qualify as one, please contact the beamline team. Visit http://archive.synchrotron.org.au/index.php/aussyncbeamlines/imaging-medical/beamline-team for contact details or send an email to IMBL@synchrotron.org.au.

Above left: construction of the vacuum transfer line in the IMBL tunnel

Above right: Robert Rostan (AS) prepares to weld two sections of the vacuum transfer line