.jpg)
At the National Physical Laboratory (NPL), we’re working to understand the make-up of cancer tumours, locate and quantify nuclear materials, and investigate advanced materials.
Mass spectrometry imaging (MSI) provides powerful eyes on the molecular and atomic world. It’s a tool that applies to all research fields, allowing us to amass huge amounts of detail about biological, materials and agricultural samples.
NPL is developing world-leading mass spectrometry technologies and the standards for best practice that can be rolled out across the world. We are also developing and applying the latest machine learning techniques to visualise and interpret mass spectrometry data.
Over the past decade, the National Centre of Excellence in Mass Spectrometry Imaging (NiCE-MSI), based at NPL, has worked on numerous high-impact projects, from taking part in cancer research, to supporting the development of improved antibiotics to beat resistant bacteria.
The centre began with just a handful of scientists that has now grown to a multidisciplinary team of 30, working with state-of-the-art imaging techniques, including secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS) and Matrix-assisted laser desorption ionisation (MALDI). These capabilities are bringing confidence to users in pharmaceutical sciences, biological sciences and semiconductors.
In the next decade, the team aim to drive the use of these techniques from solely a research environment to routine practice in industry and the NHS. The team are constantly improving the resolution and broadening the applications for MSI which could lead to reduced failures, cost savings and helping to meet regulatory requirements.
How the NanoSIMS capability is supporting pharmaceutical innovation
The National Physical Laboratory’s Measurement for Quantum (M4Q) programme is designed to support the growth of quantum technology businesses, helping to bridge the critical gap between research prototypes and market-ready solutions. By providing 20 days access to NPL’s experts at no cost*, we empower business through tailored measurement and calibration support to refine their products, reduce costs and accelerate their route to commercialisation.
Read on to find out about two success stories from our recent collaborations in the quantum space.
INEX, the UK’s leading full-service compound semi-conductor development and fabrication company, specialises in the production of vapour cells for ultra-accurate atomic clocks.
Through our work with INEX, we ensured their product met specifications for gas composition, pressure, and temperature by providing detailed modelling and radio-frequency spectroscopy to calibrate and characterise cells.
Our collaboration paid off, and with metrology data provided by NPL, INEX was able to develop a quality control device which reduced their manufacturing costs by 20%. We were also able to refine their vapour cell design, expanding marketing opportunities by improving their product’s functionality.
Another success story from the M4Q programme is our collaboration with QLM, a company that approached us with the challenge of developing a portable system for visualising greenhouse gas emissions.
We were able to provide novel optical measurement techniques and calibration tools to give QLM a deeper understanding of their laser systems physics and functionality, resulting in the creation of a calibration rig.
By improving manufacturing processes and reducing production costs, QLM was able to position itself as a scalable and affordable solution to emissions monitoring, strengthening its competitive advantage in the market.
Without NPL’s expertise and access to the full range of cutting-edge measurement options, this important work may not have gone ahead, or succeeded.
Xiao Ai - Co-founder and CTO at QLM Technology
Through our M4Q programme, NPL is committed to nurturing the quantum technology industry, helping companies like INEX and QLM to unlock new capabilities, reduce costs and bring innovative products to market. To explore how your business could benefit from quantum measurement and testing support,
*Eligibility criteria apply.
NPL, in collaboration with London Biofoundry and BiologIC Technologies Ltd, released an analysis on existing and emerging DNA synthesis technologies in Nature Reviews Chemistry, featuring the work on the front cover.
The study, which was initiated by DSTL, set out to understand the development trajectory of DNA synthesis as a major industry drive for the UK economy over the next ten years. The demand for synthetic DNA is growing exponentially. However, our ability to make or write DNA lags behind our ability to sequence or read it.
The study reviewed existing and emerging DNA synthesis technologies developed to close this gene writing gap.
DNA provides a universal tool to engineer and manipulate living systems. Recent progress in DNA synthesis has brought up limitless possibilities in a variety of industry sectors. Engineering biology, therapy and diagnostics, data storage, defence and nanotechnology are all set for unprecedented breakthroughs if DNA can be provided at scale and low cost.
As an example, DNA has already been used to write books, episodes of Netflix series, video games and is being applied to catalogue the entire British Library. Just one gram of DNA is estimated to store over 17 Exabytes of information, whereas five exabytes is all that is needed to store all the words spoken by mankind.
The development of robust metrology and suitable standards are required to accelerate and safeguard the uptake of synthetic DNA by the end users. NPL supports this endeavour by developing a toolbox of traceable reference materials, methods and standards, which will underpin further developments in the field.
Supporting commissioning of new radiotherapy equipment safely and promptly
New low-cost flexible X-ray detectors
Characterising hydrogels for cancer treatment
NPL scientists have worked on a range of projects that are set to significantly improve the accuracy of a type of radiotherapy treatment called proton beam radiotherapy. The benefits of this therapy include more precise targeting of cancer tumours without damaging surrounding healthy tissue. It massively minimises the unpleasant side effects of radiotherapy, particularly in the case of paediatric patients, including cardiac failure, pulmonary fibrosis, and secondary cancers.
Proton beam radiotherapy is seen as a superior option to established forms of radiotherapy because the radiation can be confined largely to the tumour, minimising the damage to surrounding healthy tissue. But in order to make the most of the treatment, the accuracy of the radiation dose from proton beam treatment must be similar to that achieved using existing radiotherapy treatments.
To achieve this aim, the team at NPL made three important breakthroughs:
We are excited to see these developments make an impact for patients and clinicians.
Ana Lourenço, Principal Scientist in Medical Radiation Science, presented her research work on the development of the world's first primary standard for proton radiotherapy beams. Prior to this work, globally, there was no dedicated calibration service for proton beams based directly on a primary standard resulting in higher than desired uncertainties on the dose delivered to cancer patients.
“Our team at NPL are widely recognised as world leaders in areas of proton dosimetry. We have worked to develop a deeper understanding of fundamental aspects of dosimetry for this type of beam which has culminated in us developing dedicated primary standard specifically for proton radiotherapy. We are able to further refine the understanding of the response of ionisation chambers used in the clinic. Combined with that, my team have developed protocols for auditing clinics - a vital aspect in ensuring patient treatments are optimally delivered, and have developed our own materials specifically to mimic the response of tissue, bone etc in the proton beam. It is a privilege for me to lead such a dedicated and talented team of scientists whose work has a real impact in helping to improve outcomes and the quality of life of cancer patients.” - Science Area Leader, Russell Thomas
.gif?lang=en-GB "/getattachment/39501d01-4c88-4f80-abc6-23fedb22424b/5G-at-sea-no-logo-(2).gif?lang=en-GB"){kind=logo}
5G at sea - Boosting connectivity in the marine sectorEver had your signal drop right when you were getting to the punchline of a funny video?
Well, picture yourself out on the high seas, trying to communicate with your team on land, and being unable to do so effectively due to a lack of connectivity. It’s a problem with wide-ranging implications from security of the maritime sector to national security.
We worked closely with JET Connectivity through consecutive Measurement for Recovery (M4R) and Innovate UK Analysis for Innovators projects, providing crucial support for the successful release of multiple innovative products.
JET Connectivity is delivering increased 5G connectivity at sea through the deployment of high-bandwidth 5G floating buoys, offering enhanced communication capabilities to the marine sector.
These floating 5G base stations aim to support the UK’s priorities of critical national infrastructure for future wireless non-terrestrial network (MNTN). They aim to significantly enhance the security of the maritime sector as well as support the UK Government’s drive towards net-zero ambitions, by servicing offshore wind farms.
As a result of our work with JET, coverage of their 5G network at sea improved nearly seven-fold compared with the previous system, paving the way for the creation of a connected, more secure and sustainable global blue economy.
Round 14 of the Innovate UK Analysis for Innovators programme is now open for applications. UK businesses can apply to access cutting-edge R&D expertise and work with world-leading scientists and research facilities, to solve technical analysis or measurement problems that are holding back innovation.
We provide time services to support industry, enable innovation and deliver confidence.
In 1955, timekeeping in the UK reached a turning point when Louis Essen, a physicist at the National Physical Laboratory (NPL) developed the world’s first working caesium atomic clock.
And today..
As the home of UK time, we maintain the national time scale and disseminate time across the UK. We contribute to global timekeeping and the global reference time system, Coordinated Universal Time (UTC). By applying very fine adjustments to atomic clock frequencies, UTC(NPL) is kept within a few nanoseconds of UTC.
Our expertise in maintaining time standards helps keep our daily lives running on time with accurate timekeeping that is crucial to our quality of life. The accuracy of timekeeping impacts on everything satellite navigation systems, underpins the functioning of the internet and facilitates timestamping for transactions in financial trading.
Our ability to measure time to this accuracy helps drive economic growth for the UK with trusted timestamping for the finance sector down to the millisecond. We operate two commercial time services, NPLTime Certified® and NPLTime Access®
.png?width=500&height=500 "Place-Time-in-the-City-Image-with-Squares-(1).png")
In September 2023, to showcase the story of time we presented the Royal Museums Greenwich with a state of the art strontium ion clock, celebrating the relationship between two organisations who have had, and continue to have, a substantial impact on how the world tells the time.
A flotilla of boats, led by the Jubilant, rowed from Isleworth to Royal Museums Greenwich, carrying the gifted atomic clock. This momentous occasion marked 21 years since the Jubilant first carried an NPL atomic (caesium) clock down the River Thames.
The strontium ion clock was the most accurate atomic clock in the world in 2004 and consists of a single ion of strontium trapped and cooled within the vacuum chamber. Our latest optical clocks are more than 100 times more accurate, and one has recently started contributing to International Atomic Time.
We continue to showcase the importance of accurate and resilient timekeeping in our daily lives. Through our longstanding relationship with Royal Museums Greenwich, the clock now provides the public the chance to view a prestigious piece of scientific equipment and learn about its vital role in the UK’s timekeeping history.
Every day, we work closely with leaders in UK industry to provide them with expert measurement services. Our customers trust us to deliver measurements that are accurate, traceable, and assured to a degree of certainty underpinned by our world-leading science.
Below is just some of the feedback we have received from our customers on the measurement work we have conducted for them, making it possible for them to bring innovative products and services to market with confidence and assured data.
NPL’s impact is monumental as the main provider of the UK’s measurement standards, which is something that shouldn’t be taken for granted. NPL takes the time to worry about the quality and assurance of standards so that the public doesn’t have to.
Hexagon Metrology Ltd
Our work with NPL delivered significant impact during a critical stage of company growth.
Inductosense
As a result of participation in a research programme with NPL we were able to more accurately assess the risks in our manufacturing process, components and product designs. We were able to prove the relatively low risk of problems using existing materials and potentially costly search for, and implementation, of alternatives. The impact of working with NPL was both time and cost savings. Working with NPL was like having insurance in place, providing confidence in process and designs and creating standards and specifications against which later products and components could be designed.
Steve Kuc, SSTL
In addition to our standard commercial measurement offering, we run a number of programmes which offer measurement services at no cost for a fixed time period in specific industries and geographies. Our Measurement for Business (M4B) programme is one such example and is currently open for applications.
Our research and measurement solutions support innovation and product development. We work with companies to deliver business advantage and commercial success.
Contact our Customer Services team on +44 20 8943 7070