NXCT awarded £6.5 million EPSRC grant
Oct 16, 2025
The National X-ray Computed Tomography facility (NXCT), the UK’s national research hub for lab based X-ray CT imaging, has today been awarded a major five-year grant from the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC). The NXCT unites leading universities and Diamond Light Source to offer advanced 3D and 4D CT imaging.
The generous funding will cement NXCT’s role at the forefront of 3D and 4D imaging research, enabling transformative access for both academic and industrial researchers nationwide.
In operation since November 2020, NXCT is an EPSRC-supported partnership uniting world-class CT expertise across the Universities of Manchester, Southampton, Warwick, UCL and Diamond Light Source. Hosted at Manchester’s Henry Royce Institute, the facility provides cutting-edge imaging, data analysis and scientific support for a broad spectrum of users.
Planned developments will include upgrades to state-of-the-art equipment and remote-access computing infrastructure to support advanced, high-volume, and in-situ imaging. These enhancements will expand experimental capabilities and improve data efficiency. User access will be broadened by strengthening free beamtime access schemes and creating new opportunities for SMEs and public engagement, ensuring wider benefit from the facility’s resources.
Data and computational support will be enhanced through upgraded workstations, expanded storage, and bespoke data pipelines developed with research IT services. New training initiatives will also be introduced, offering specialist modules in tomography data collection and analysis for both new and experienced users.
Dr Neil Robinson, Joint Head of Research Infrastructure at EPSRC said: "EPSRC is pleased to continue supporting the National X-ray Computed Tomography facility, which has established itself as a hub for world-leading imaging research. This new investment will not only provide researchers and industry across the UK with access to cutting-edge 3D and 4D imaging but will also help train the next generation of experts in these transformative technologies. By strengthening national capability and collaboration, NXCT will play a key role in driving discovery and innovation across disciplines."
Professor Tim Burnett, Director of NXCT said: "I am delighted that we get the chance to continue to grow the lab X-ray CT community and provide it with critical resources, including access to scanners and support with data analysis. I am particularly proud of how we have trained over 500 researchers in the first five years, and we aim to expand this going forward. If you have ever considered X-ray CT for your research, please do get in touch."
We look forward to continuing this collaboration with NXCT, linking lab and synchrotron X-ray CT capabilities, expertise and training to benefit the UK imaging community.
Dr Julia Parker, Diamond's Imaging and Microscopy Group Leader
The image shows an X- ray CT scan of an Iron Age sword, showing the decorative detailing. This item was uncovered during the excavation of a Late Iron Age burial site in West Sussex. Image courtesy of Archaeology South-East.
Diamond Light Source is the UK's national synchrotron science facility, located at the Harwell Science and Innovation Campus in Oxfordshire.
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