About the IMP

The Institute of Medical Physics within the School of Physics, University of Sydney, acts as an umbrella organization for all research and teaching activities within the University and its affiliated organisations that are related to Medical Physics.

Medical Physics is the field in which physical scientists apply their knowledge and training in many different areas of medicine including the treatment of cancer, medical imaging, physiological monitoring and medical electronics.

The medical physics profession grew out of the area of radiation science with the use of x-rays for diagnosis and radiation therapy, but now embraces clinical applications of ultrasound, light, infrared and radiofrequency radiation, and measurements of pressure, temperature and flow in the human body.

In the application to cancer treatment, the aim is to develop new and more effective methods for administering radiotherapy and to assist radiation oncologists in studying the medical impact of new radiotherapy technology. To this end, medical physicists calculate, measure and verify radiation dose (the amount of energy deposited per unit mass of tissue) to ensure that an accurate amount is delivered to a well-defined treatment volume. The fundamental physical laws of external electron, photon and proton radiation beams are explored to research treatment techniques, treatment apparatuses, radiation measurement devices, quality assurance methods, dose calculation methods, and methods of predicting the effects of radiation on tissue.

In medical imaging applications, medical physicists apply their skills to the development of instrumentation (for imaging x-rays, gamma rays and non-ionising radiation), image reconstruction algorithms, models of photon transport and detection, and models of underlying physiological processes. The broad aim of this field is to improve the resolution, signal-to-noise ratio and quantitative accuracy of non-invasive imaging techniques, within the constraints of radiation dose to the subject and duration of the procedure. This area of medical physics is undergoing rapid growth as functional imaging techniques such as MRI and PET become increasingly used as a tool for basic biomedical research as well as for routine clinical procedures.

Many medical physicists are based in large hospitals with a number of other specialist physicists, engineers and technical staff. There are good prospects for employment in medical physics both within Australia and overseas. The normal entry requirement into the profession is a Masters degree in Medical Physics.

Further details regarding careers in Medical Physics in Australia may be obtained from the Australasian College of Physical Scientists and Engineers in Medicine (ACPSEM).

• Undertake and promote highly innovative research at the forefront of developments within the field of Medical Physics, with a scale and a focus leading to outstanding national and international recognition.
• Link existing Medical Physics research strengths and build new capacity for interdisciplinary and collaborative approaches to address challenging and significant research problems in Medical Physics.
• Attract, from within Australia and abroad, researchers of high international standing and the most promising research students.
• Provide a high quality postgraduate and postdoctoral training environment for researchers in Medical Physics.
• Offer Australian Medical Physics researchers access to world class infrastructure and equipment.
• Develop relationships and build networks with major international Medical Physics centres and research programs that will help achieve global recognition for Australian Medical Physics research.

Prof. Clive Baldock (Director)
Institute of Medical Physics
School of Physics
University of Sydney
NSW 2006
Australia
Ph: +61 2 9351 2537
Fax: + 61 2 9351 7726
Email: