Research Summary
Medical imaging plays a vital role in detecting and diagnosing disease, but improving image quality while reducing radiation exposure remains a major challenge. Dr. Alla Reznik, Canada Research Chair in Radiation Medical Imaging Physics, is advancing technologies for both X-ray and positron emission tomography (PET) imaging, with significant implications for cancer diagnosis.
Reznik and her research team have developed a new lead oxide–based transducer for X-ray detection that delivers five times greater sensitivity, enabling higher-quality images at lower doses. Reznik also developed an organ-targeted PET and clinically introduced the Radialis PET Camera, which offers up to 10 times the sensitivity of existing systems. This allows for earlier and more accurate detection of disease in organs like the breast and brain. Building on this success, Reznik’s team aims to further improve imaging precision, efficiency and safety—helping clinicians to reduce radiation risks and expand the benefits of personalized medicine.