Based in the heart of London, the department of medical physics and biomedical engineering at University College London Hospitals provides expert physical science support to activities both within UCLH and to a wide range of external partners.

Each year we receive many requests to visit our department. In order to accommodate as many requests as possible, each year we hold an open day for people to come and visit our department and find out more about what we do here. 

Who is this day suitable for?

The open day is tailored towards people who have an interest in entering the professions of medical physics or biomedical engineering. The structure of the day is a mixture of presentations and workshops from the people who work in the department. A common route into working in these fields is via the modernising scientific careers training programme. We usually have a number of trainees in the department and so there will also be the opportunity to get advice about applying for this programme. Please note that we can only accept applications from people over the age of 18 years.

When will the open day be held?

We usually hold the open day in March. The exact date will be confirmed closer to the event.

How do I apply?

There is an application form. Spaces will be preferentially offered to people who are able to demonstrate genuine interest in pursuing a career in the fields of medical physics or biomedical engineering. Please note that applications do not guarantee a place at the open day.

If you would like to register your interest in attending then please contact the medical physics helpdesk: uclh.enquiry.mpb.helpdesk@nhs.net

Medical physics and biomedical engineering
Basement (level -2) Elizabeth Garret Anderson Building
25 Grafton Way
London WC1E 6DB

Radiation physics supports the safe use of both ionising and non-ionising radiation within UCLH and provides quality assurance and advice externally to many other hospitals, universities and research institutes as well as veterinary practices, dentists and other companies.

The majority of these services assist organisations in fulfilling their legal requirements to comply with various statutory regulations associated with the safe use of radiation.

Radiation physics services include:

  • Personal dosimetry
  • Diagnostic x-ray quality assurance
  • Advice on patient dosimetry and dose optimisation
  • Instrument performance tests
  • Radiation protection advisory services
  • Radioactive waste advisory services
  • Radiation safety training
  • Laser protection training and advisory services 

Our whole body dosimetry service meets high quality standards and is approved by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). Our objective is to provide accurate, responsive, reliable and user-friendly dosimetry services.

Contact us

Email: uclh.radiationprotectionservices@nhs.net
Telephone: 020 3447 4321

The workshop provides:

    • Medical device prototypes
    • CNC precision machining
    • 3D scanning/printing

We use the latest CAD/CAM technology and practices to design and manufacture prototype devices for routine use and R&D in medical and biomedical engineering. We also offer expert mechanical engineering advice and solutions.

Contact us

Email: uclh.Enquiry.mpb.helpdesk@nhs.net
Telephone: 020 3447 4321

Clinical Engineering provides services associated with managing medical devices in a healthcare environment, including:

  • New equipment specification
  • Equipment maintenance
  • Maintenance contract management
  • Safety alert and incident management
  • Replacement planning advice

Our team of chartered engineers, clinical scientists and technologists support medical equipment lifecycle management from conception to replacement. We use specialist test equipment to ensure medical equipment is safe, accurate and functional for use on patients. We are strongly customer focused and provide services within the scope of our ISO9001:2015 certification.

Contact us

Email: uclh.Enquiry.mpb.helpdesk@nhs.net
Telephone: 020 3447 4321

Our scientific computing service covers a wide range of computing activities in medicine. Our computer scientists and technicians are highly specialised in applying their skills to IT systems and technology that support  medical devices and clinical services. The majority of our work revolves around connected medical devices. 

Our team assess and commission clinical computing applications and medical devices that enable clinical teams to provide services to patients.

Contact us

Email: uclh.Enquiry.mpb.helpdesk@nhs.net
Telephone: 020 3447 4321

The cranioplasty unit has over 25 years’ experience and was the first unit in the UK to use CAD technology to deal with surgical reparation of an imperfection or abnormality of the skull arising from trauma, surgical procedures or other causes. Working in close collaboration with the National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery as well as with other NHS Trusts across the UK, the unit consistently provides a high-quality service.  

Our clinical scientists use computer assisted techniques from the axial CT scans of the skull to produce extremely precise titanium plates which are tailored to each individual patient. 

Our cranioplasty work is led by our clinical scientists working collaboratively with neuro and maxillofacial surgeons.  We produce custom made devices within the scope of the Medical Device Regulations. Surgical models are created for a variety of purposes including visual aids to complex surgeries in maxillofacial, orthopaedics and other areas.

Contact us

Email: uclh.Enquiry.mpb.helpdesk@nhs.net
Telephone: 020 3447 4321

We use specialised ultrasound test objects and established protocols to test image quality, resolution and other parameters in order to assess the performance of medical ultrasound equipment.

Contact us

Email: uclh.Enquiry.mpb.helpdesk@nhs.net
Telephone: 020 3447 4321

Laser Protection Advisers provide expert advice in the use, control, maintenance and development of lasers and endoscopes. 

We also advise on the evaluation, procurement and deployment of lasers to ensure best value for money both at UCLH and externally to private clinics.

We perform clinical inspections, contribute to write up local rules and also participate in assessing building designs to make sure they are laser safe. We also provide technical support for the routine clinical use of lasers as well as novel diagnostic and therapeutic laser techniques.

Contact us

Email: uclh.Enquiry.mpb.helpdesk@nhs.net
Telephone: 020 3447 4321

Services

The magnetic resonance service at UCLH provides the following services:

  • Quality assurance
  • Acceptance testing
  • Auxiliary equipment safety and artefact testing
  • MR safety audits and advice (including site surveys and Local Rules check)
  • Procurement advice and tender evaluation
  • Clinical Imaging Support
  • Clinical protocol development
  • Sequence development
  • MR image and spectroscopy processing and analysis

We are well equipped to test both new and refurbished MR scanners before clinical use. We use specialised MRI test objects and established pulse sequence protocols and compare performance to manufacturer’s specifications. We can also survey the surrounding areas to ensure they meet required legislation. For more information about what we do, or to arrange for us to provide one of our services at your site, please see the contact information at the bottom of this page.

At UCLH

We support three 1.5 T, two 3 T whole-body clinical scanners and a 3 T combined PET/MRI scanner.  We also use a 3 T whole-body scanner and a 9.4 T pre-clinical scanner at UCL's Institute of Neurology for research and development.

Our clinical and research and development activities include:

  • Imaging and multinuclear spectroscopy in neonates with perinatal hypoxic-ischaemic cerebral injury
  • Investigating therapies for perinatal brain injury
  • Participating in clinical trials using MR biomarkers as outcome measures
  • Assessment of female lower abdominal muscle using spectroscopy
  • Quantitative assessment of adipose tissue in Crohn's disease
  • Multi-parametric MRI for tumour characterisation
  • Development of whole-body MRI for metastasis detection and follow-up

We publish numerous biomedical research papers in prestigious journals, present papers at many international conferences and assist with generating substantial research-grant support with both UCLH and UCL-based collaborators.

UCH 3 T multinuclear MRI scanner and MRI-compatible neonatal incubator on the patient bed

Contact us

Section Head
Dr. Alan Bainbridge
Email: alan.bainbridge1@nhs.net
Telephone: 020 3447 2322