Where Discovery Becomes Diagnostic.

Facilities

The Molecular Imaging Research Centre (MIRC) offers world-leading research facilities and production of radiopharmaceuticals. The centre enables the NHS, research institutions, chemists, and pharmaceutical companies to develop new methods of diagnosing cancers, dementia, and heart disease.

Browse the range of facilities we have to offer and see how we can support your research today.

Translational Research Laboratory

A purpose-built laboratory within the Centre’s Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) Suite that enables the efficient progression of radiopharmaceutical technologies from early-stage research through to clinical production. The laboratory is equipped with four shielded hot cells housing automated radiosynthesis platforms. This includes FASTlab 2 and TRACERlab FX2 C systems, alongside a dedicated research High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) platform which supports method development and quality control activities.

Located outside the GMP manufacturing envelope, the laboratory provides a flexible and compliant environment ideally suited to radiochemistry research, process development, and specialist training. This separation allows innovative methods and workflows to be developed, optimised, and de-risked before GMP implementation whilst maintaining the Centre’s capacity for clinical research.

In addition to supporting clinical translation programmes, the Translational Research Laboratory is available for collaborative radiochemistry R&D projects, including contract research and partnership activities with academic and industrial collaborators.

Cyclotron & Isotope Production

The GE GENtrace cyclotron is central to the Centre’s radiopharmaceutical production capability. It provides reliable, on-site generation of fluorine-18 and carbon-11 to support both clinical production and translational research. The compact cyclotron (7.8 MeV) is capable of producing approximately 28 GBq of fluorine-18 within two hours and 18.5 GBq of carbon-11 within 50 minutes. This makes it ideal for research, on-site delivery, and regional distribution depending upon the end user requirements.

The cyclotron is fully integrated with hot cells in the Translational Research Laboratory and Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) Suite, enabling flexible isotope delivery for a variety of production activities. In addition to in-house cyclotron production, the MIRC facility houses a 68Ge/68Ga generator (IRE ELIT Galli Ad). This allows it to receive isotopes from external suppliers and cyclotron facilities, expanding the scope of radiopharmaceutical development and clinical production supported on-site.

Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) Suite

The Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) Suite provides a fully compliant environment for the clinical production of radiopharmaceuticals, supporting routine manufacture as well as first-in-human and early-phase clinical studies. It is designed to meet the current GMP requirements, enabling the reliable translation of radiopharmaceutical processes into regulated clinical supply.

The suite itself comprises two dedicated production hot cells. One hot cell is configured specifically for gallium-68 manufacture and houses the gallium generator, enabling routine and reliable production of 68Ga-labelled radiopharmaceuticals. The second hot cell is designed for flexible multi-isotope use and can accommodate either a FASTlab 2 or GE TRACERlab FX2 C automated synthesis module, depending on project and clinical requirements. This flexibility allows the suite to support a broad range of radiochemistry workflows and isotopes.

Adjacent to the main production area is a GMP laboratory housing the GE TRYGG/KLAR system, which provides a platform for future expansion of manufacturing capabilities. Subject to Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Authority (MHRA) approval, this setup will enable additional production workflows and further enhance the Centre’s capacity.

Release Room

This room provides the controlled interface between radiopharmaceutical manufacture and clinical or external distribution. Following GMP production and quality assurance, radiopharmaceuticals are transferred into the Release Room for final release and dispatch. From here, products can be passed directly via a secure transfer hatch into the Jack Brignall PET-CT Scanning Centre for immediate on-site clinical use, minimising transport time. Alternatively, radiopharmaceuticals can be prepared for external distribution to partner sites and regional users.

Dr Dave Roberts posting a dose through to Sallyann Wright, ready for release to patients

QC Laboratory

The Quality Control (QC) Laboratory supports the release of radiopharmaceuticals. It performs comprehensive analytical testing in accordance with Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) and regulatory requirements. The laboratory can conduct all standard quality control assays required for clinical release. This ensures product safety, purity, and compliance.

The laboratory includes two High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) systems, alongside a gas chromatography (GC) system for the analysis of residual solvents. Endotoxin testing capability is in place to confirm compliance with pyrogen limits, together with the necessary supporting instrumentation for routine radiopharmaceutical QC.

Dr Bassim Abdulwahaab operating HPLC instrumentation to check the quality of the product manufactured in the facility

Clinical Scanning

The Jack Brignall PET-CT Scanning Centre is an integral component of the MIRC ecosystem, owned and operated by the Daisy Appeal Charity. The centre provides high-quality Positron Emission Tomography and Computed Tomography (PET-CT) imaging for both clinical services and research studies, supporting the translation of advanced imaging agents into patient care.

The facility currently houses a Siemens Biograph mCT Flow PET-CT system, which is due to be replaced in 2026 by a GE Omni Legend PET-CT digital scanner. The new scanner will feature a 32 cm axial field of view, significantly enhancing sensitivity, throughput, and quantitative performance for both routine and research applications.

Clinical operations are delivered by Alliance Medical Limited as part of the NHS national PET-CT contract, ensuring a robust provision. Importantly, dedicated ring-fenced research time is maintained within the centre, enabling clinical studies, first-in-human imaging, and translational research programmes to be conducted alongside routine NHS imaging activity.

The Jack Brignall PET-CT Scanning Centre

Registered office: MIRC, Daisy Building, Castle Hill Hospital, Castle Road, Cottingham HU16 5JQ.

Registered company number 177823472

Call: 01482 461909

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