Imaging

The Center for Biomedical Imaging Research & Development (CBIRD) act as an umbrella organisation representing the interests of imaging research conducted at Sydney West Area Health Service (SWAHS) as well as fostering ongoing collaboration between other units.  

Westmead Hospital Imaging Department of SWAHS are now ranked the second most productive department in research in Australia. it provides clinical services to greater than 9 to10% of the Australian population and is part of the largest healthcare and research precinct in the Southern Hemisphere.

Westmead Hospital Imaging Department has active links with industry partners as part of research in Neuroimaging and Molecular imaging and further interaction would be expected, particularly in view of the development of the Australian BioHub at Westmead, NSW.

The CBIRD focus on four major areas, drawing on existing links between the imaging department, clinicians and scientists on the Westmead Campus.  These areas are:

• Neuroimaging, 
• Vascular imaging,  
• Molecular imaging and 
• Outcomes analysis. 

CURRENT TRENDS IN IMAGING RESEARCH and C.B.I.R.D. :

The current trends in Imaging research reflect growing use of more basic science techniques as well as clinical research to understand the pathogenesis, course and diagnosis of disease. In Radiology there is new focus on fundamental physiological and biochemical processes (functional imaging) in order to better correlate with extensive anatomical data now available. In Nuclear medicine there has long been a focus on function. Anatomical correlation with function in both Radiology and Nuclear Medicine will be a key aspect of further research in Imaging.

In clinical research, there is now a focus on randomised controlled trials, which employ a multicentre approach where necessary.  There is a focus on collaborative research, to combine the best skills from different centers to answer a particular research question.  In the international arena, there will be a need to develop the skills to apply the advances from fundamental research into the clinical arena.  This will spawn a new area of development in both physiological, anatomical and molecular imaging. 

Research is recognised as an important key result area for the Division of Imaging and is crucial to the fulfillment of the Division’s mission.

Over the years the C.B.I.R.D. Staff has developed expertise in Neuroimaging using the modalities of Nuclear Medicine (Spect), MRI (functional MRI ,   Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy  and Volumetric Imaging) Vascular Imaging.   The main themes of current research are based around these areas. Whilst research within the department is driven by the senior clinical staff, collaboration with other units with expertise in other areas will continue to be a primary focus.  All funding for research within the department is derived from grant income.