IN a move that strengthens the North-East's claim to be a major centre for medical research, a super-scanner is coming to the region.

The £2.5m Pet (positron emission tomography) scanner, bought with the help of a £2.3m grant from development agency One NorthEast, is being installed at Newcastle General Hospital.

It will be used by scientists from the Northern Institute for Cancer Research and the Campus of Ageing and Vitality to find treatments for cancer and brain conditions.

The acquisition of the modern scanner, which provides scientists with incredibly detailed images of organs and tissue, is seen as an important step towards Newcastle acquiring the status of Science City.

It will also make it more likely that North-East patients will be among the first in the country to join trials of new treatments.

The scanner, which also received funding from Newcastle University, is an element of the larger proposed Pet centre, a comprehensive imaging facility to exploit research strengths in oncology, ageing and neuroscience.

Dr Caroline Gladwell, One NorthEast's healthcare innovation manager, said: "The scanner and the proposed Pet centre are significant steps in the establishment of ageing and health as one of the four science strands of Science City.

"Pet scanning, which is underprovided in the UK compared with other developed countries, is an important tool for diagnosis and treatment.

"The scanner and centre will facilitate the retention and expansion of research and development expertise within Newcastle University, while clinical and commercial opportunities will also be advanced."

The facility will allow Newcastle University scientists to take part in early clinical trials with drugs and will attract collaborative research within the medical imaging, biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries.

Dr Ross Maxwell, director of the Pet facility, said: "The Pet scanner is an important step forward as it provides researchers with a non-invasive technique for examining the effect of drugs."

Dr Gladwell said: "The next step in this process is to push for the region to be a nationally recognised Pet centre, which will really help put us on the map and establish the North-East as a major player in cutting-edge imaging technologies."

A mobile Pet scanner will be based at NHS hospitals in Newcastle and Middlesbrough from early next year