BMIT eNews: BMIT eNews | Fall 2025

Posted on October 08, 2025
- New BMIT Team - Updates to the Beamlines - CLS User Community Forum - 500 Publications and Counting! - Expressions of Interest  - Around the Beamlines - Pictures of the Season

Local Events: Save the Date: CLS User Community Forum (October 16-24, 2025)

Posted on September 22, 2025
After a challenging year of limited operations, the CLS User Community Forum offers a space to reconnect, share updates, and look ahead together. This one-day hybrid event will bring users, staff, and partners together for open dialogue about the facility’s status, future planning, and the science that continues to thrive across our community. In-person activities will be held in Convocation Hall at the University of Saskatchewan, with all sessions live-streamed for virtual participants.

News: Fusarium head blight mycotoxin detector in the works

Posted on September 20, 2025
Fusarium head blight (FHB) and the mycotoxin it causes, especially deoxynivalenol (DON), can be a serious economic detriment to producers. It reduces yield and grain grade, as well as contaminates the grain, making it dangerous for human and animal consumption. Sheila Andrade, a PhD student at the University of Saskatchewan, has been working on developing a method of detection to ease the struggles of producers, agronomists and industry. The objective of her work has been to employ synchrotron-based x-ray phase-contrast computed tomograph at the Canadian Light Source (CLS) to measure the morphological parameters of Fusarium-infected wheat kernels, to correlate those parameters with DON contamination, and also compare the morphological FHB symptom differences between durum and bread wheat.

Beamline Update: Ning Zhu named permanent beamline responsible

Posted on September 15, 2025
Congratulations to Ning Zhu on becoming the permanent beamline responsible for the BMIT beamlines.

Beamline Update: Two new associate scientists join the BMIT beamlines

Posted on September 15, 2025
Carter Blocka and Xiao Fan Ding join BMIT as new associate scientists. Carter is the winner of the 2024 G. Michael Bancroft Master’s Thesis award. He completed his master’s in chemical engineering from the University of Saskatchewan and heavily used the BMIT bending magnet beamline for his research. His area of expertise is in the drying process of wetted pharmaceutical granules, an important operation in the pharmaceutical tableting industry. Having used in-situ synchrotron X-ray imaging techniques, he now brings his knowledge as a scientist to guide future users of the BMIT beamlines. Xiao Fan is currently completing his PhD in Biomedical Engineering. He has over eight years of experience in medical imaging technologies. His research combines imaging techniques with advanced computational methods and has developed deep-learning post-image processing strategies.

News: Toward cleaner oil sands processing

Posted on September 11, 2025
Canada’s oil sands are an important source of energy and economic activity, but the bitumen that is extracted there takes a lot of processing and cleaning before it can be transported to refineries to be converted into usable oil.

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clet.2025.10103

News: Greening the production of cement

Posted on August 21, 2025
In Canada, it can seem like there are two seasons: winter and construction. Whether it’s repairing sidewalks and streets, or building new homes and apartments, much of this work uses cement – the key ingredient of concrete.

https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-07210-3

News: Scotty’s rib: University of Regina PhD student examines preserved blood vessels in famous fossil

Posted on July 04, 2025
A University of Regina research team made some dino-mite discoveries about how dinosaurs may have healed from injuries when they examined the preserved blood vessel structures inside a rib bone from Scotty, the famous Tyrannosaurus rex unearthed in Saskatchewan in the 1990s. Their findings were recently published in Scientific Reports, an open-access journal that publishes original research from across the natural sciences, psychology, medicine, and engineering.

https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-06981-z

News: Better heating method makes legumes easier to digest

Posted on June 24, 2025
While they have been part of our human diet for centuries, legumes like peas and beans are ultimately seeds for the next generation of plants. To protect themselves from being eaten by animals and insects, they contain “antinutrients” that are hard for animals – and humans – to digest.

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ifset.2025.104033

News: Plant leaves inspire design of improved fuel cell

Posted on April 22, 2025
Hydrogen fuel cells convert hydrogen and oxygen into electricity, heat, and water. Because this conversion process doesn’t generate any carbon emissions, fuel cells are seen as a valuable source of green energy that could be key in addressing climate change.

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apenergy.2025.125760

News: Improving steel pipelines for safe transport of hydrogen

Posted on March 28, 2025
Hydrogen is increasingly gaining attention as a promising energy source for a cleaner, more sustainable future. Using hydrogen to meet the energy demands for large-scale applications such as utility infrastructure will require transporting large volumes via existing pipelines designed for natural gas.

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.engfailanal.2025.109419

Local Events: Save the Date: The 14th international Workshop on Accelerator Operations (September 22-26, 2025)

Posted on February 26, 2025
The series of Workshops on Accelerator Operations brings together professionals involved in day-to-day operation of accelerators with the goal of sharing information. By learning how others address such topics as staffing, training, documentation, commissioning, safety and maintenance, attendees can improve the efficiency of their own operations. The primary goal of the workshops is to bring together people who operate accelerators of all sizes and to help them exchange ideas about accelerator operation, performance, organization, maintenance, documentation, software, control room layout, remote operation, and safety among other topics. It also serves the accelerator operations community as a means to establish benchmarks by facilitating comparisons of methods, efficiencies, costs, reliability, beam quality and other performance measures. 

News: New type of battery could outlast EVs and still be used for grid energy storage

Posted on December 09, 2024
There’s a big push underway to increase the lifespan of lithium-ion batteries powering EVs on the road today. By law, in the US, these cells must be able to hold 80% of their original full charge after eight years of operation.

http://dx.doi.org/10.1149/1945-7111/ad88a8

News: Detecting osteoarthritis before patients need joint replacement

Posted on November 29, 2024
An imaging technique currently available only at synchrotrons like the Canadian Light Source at the University of Saskatchewan (USask) could one day enable doctors to detect osteoarthritis while patients can still be treated with medication – before they require joint replacement -- thanks to research by USask scientist Brian Eames and colleagues.

https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0291757

News: Finding solutions to problem of clumping in potash

Posted on July 24, 2024
When powdered products like sugar, salt, or instant coffee are exposed to moisture, they form clumps and become much harder to use. The same thing happens to potash-based fertilizers and other potash products, where clumping can lead to industrial and agricultural waste. That’s why Saskatchewan researchers are taking a closer look at studying why clumps form in powdered products and what can be done to avoid this.

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.partic.2024.04.012

News: Ensuring we have safe eggs to eat

Posted on June 06, 2024
Scientists with the University of Saskatchewan (USask) used the Canadian Light Source (CLS) at USask to study a promising new technique for decontaminating eggs and recently published their findings.

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lwt.2024.116151

News: USask researchers are looking to address the availability of tissues with tissue engineering technology

Posted on May 15, 2024
For the many people who suffer from severe tissue or organ damage, transplantation is the gold standard of treatment methods, but the availability of tissue and organ transplants is limited and wait lists can be long. Dr. Daniel Chen, PhD student Xiaoman Duan, and MSc student Naitao Li, researchers in the University of Saskatchewan’s Division of Biomedical Engineering in the Department of Mechanical Engineering (USask College of Engineering), are looking to address this issue using tissue engineering technology. By creating tissue and organ substitutes, this process could help permanently solve the problem of shortages of donor tissues and organs. The USask researchers have used the BMIT-ID beamline at the CLS to look at 3D-printed hydrogel structures called scaffolds, which are a promising advance in tissue engineering. These scaffolds can be created with properties that mimic a body’s natural tissue extracellular matrix, providing a platform for cell growth and oxygen and nutrient transportation within healing tissues or organs. The researchers are specifically investigating how the hydrogel scaffolds help the regeneration process of damaged nerve tissue, and how they degrade. A better understanding of how hydrogel scaffolds and nerve tissue interact will provide researchers with improved success in clinical treatment of damaged tissues and organs.

News: Nature’s defense against changing climate

Posted on January 09, 2024
Balsam poplars are a medium-sized deciduous tree commonly planted as a wind shelter or for alley cropping, to create lanes for growing agricultural crops. Because of their economic value for these applications – and considering warmer, drier conditions brought on by climate change -- plant breeders are interested in coming up with new hybrid types that are even more resistant to drought.

https://doi.org/10.1111/ppl.14040

News: Improved treatment for patients with kidney failure

Posted on August 24, 2023
Over two million people worldwide depend on dialysis or a kidney transplant, according to the National Kidney Foundation. In Canada, the number of individuals facing kidney failure has climbed 35 per cent since 2009 and nearly half (46 per cent) of new kidney disease patients are under age 65, according to The Kidney Foundation of Canada.

https://doi.org/10.3390/membranes13080718

News: Corn protein key to better texture in plant-based meat substitutes

Posted on June 15, 2023
Sales of plant-based meat products have levelled off in recent years, at least in part because current offerings lack the texture or mouthfeel of a nice T-bone steak or chicken breast.

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ifset.2023.103385

News: USask researchers develop a method to visualize tissue scaffolds

Posted on June 08, 2023
Researchers from the University of Saskatchewan want to develop a method to visualize the internal structure of hydrogel scaffolds that are used to regenerate tissue. Using our BMIT beamline, they were able to scan the internal structure of their samples without cutting them open first, which makes their results more accurate. This detailed data will help the team to develop and test a new method for assessing scaffolds. “With an effective method, we can try to design and manufacture more delicate structures such as blood vessels and then evaluate their structures and mechanical performance as time goes on to ensure that they work as expected,” said Naitao Li, a USask MSc student on the research team who is working alongside Prof. Daniel Chen with the USask College of Engineering. Synchrotron imaging is non-invasive, as well as more accurate and faster than traditional imaging methods, explained Li. The team hopes to develop a method to visualize the scaffolds that are to be implanted in bodies. If successful, this could one day benefit patients who need tissue regeneration treatments.

News: New bone imaging technique could lead to improved osteoporosis treatment

Posted on November 02, 2022
More than 2.3 million Canadians are affected by osteoporosis, resulting in billions of dollars in economic burden and incalculable suffering. A research team from the College of Medicine at the University of Saskatchewan has developed a new approach to imaging that detects changes in bone tissue far more quickly than bone densitometry scans, the method currently used in health care. While the study was done using a rabbit model, the results could lead to improved drug treatment in humans with osteoporosis.

https://doi.org/10.1002/jbmr.4700

News: Producing hydrogen from seawater

Posted on September 13, 2022
In her research on bone tissue engineering, Dr. Marta Cerruti has worked for years with graphene, a single sheet of carbon atoms with incredible properties – electrical conductivity and the ability to support tremendous weight. Now, her quest to improve its qualities has opened the door to a possible solution to one of the challenges of producing hydrogen from seawater.

https://doi.org/10.1021/acsnano.2c03877

News: New research on the risks of lead exposure from bullets used in big game hunting

Posted on August 24, 2022
The lead in some bullets used for hunting deer, moose, and elk is toxic to the humans who eat the harvested meat and to scavenger animals that feast on remains left in the .field

https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0271987

News: X-rays capture ageing process in EV batteries

Posted on April 05, 2022
CLS researcher Toby Bond uses x-rays to help engineer powerful electric vehicle batteries with longer lifetimes. His research, published in The Journal of the Electrochemical Society, shows how the charge/discharge cycles of batteries cause physical damage eventually leading to reduced energy storage. This new work points to a link between cracks that form in the battery material and depletion of vital liquids that carry charge.

https://doi.org/10.1149/1945-7111/ac4b83

News: Studying the world’s largest T. rex to learn about evolution

Posted on March 22, 2022
Scotty, the world’s largest T. rex, has captured the public’s attention since it was discovered in Saskatchewan in 1991. Now, researchers from the University of Regina (UofR) and the Royal Saskatchewan Museum (RSM) are taking a closer look at the dinosaur’s remains using the Canadian Light Source (CLS) at the University of Saskatchewan.

News: Reducing potholes in cold climates

Posted on March 02, 2022
We all hate the potholes that appear on the roads as the weather starts to change. Haithem Soliman and Mai Alawneh with the College of Engineering at the University of Saskatchewan (USask) are conducting experiments to see if recycled materials can be used to build durable roads in climates with significant temperature swings between seasons, like those seen in Saskatchewan.

News: Promising new approach to rebuild bone tissue

Posted on February 15, 2022
Over the last 30 years, the scientific community has been working to develop a synthetic alternative to bone grafts for repairing diseased or damaged bone. McGill University researchers used the Canadian Light Source (CLS) at the University of Saskatchewan to advance a novel method for growing synthetic bone tissue.

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.carbon.2021.12.054

News: Scientists develop new coating to protect kidney failure patients on dialysis

Posted on January 18, 2022
Researchers from the University of Saskatchewan (USask) and St. Paul’s Hospital in Saskatoon used the Canadian Light Source (CLS) at USask to help improve health outcomes for patients on dialysis.

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.surfin.2021.101505

News: Dairy discovery could improve dialysis design for kidney failure patients

Posted on September 07, 2021
Researchers were able to view an industrial milk-filtering membrane in a way not seen before – layer by layer at a microscopic scale, as skim milk flowed through. Their observations hold great promise for increased yields and creating new dairy products, and could even help in redesigning hemodialysis membranes, and thus patients requiring kidney dialysis treatment.

https://doi.org/10.1111/ijac.13824

News: Sweet results: Using science to make the best chocolate yet

Posted on August 31, 2021
Scientists used synchrotron technology to show a key ingredient can create the ideal chocolate structure and could revolutionize the chocolate industry. Structure is key when it comes creating the best quality of chocolate. An ideal internal structure will be smooth and continuous, not crumbly, and result in glossy, delicious, melt-in-your-mouth decadence. However, this sweet bliss is not easy to achieve.

https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-021-25206-1

News: Developing future therapies for inoperable cancers

Posted on December 02, 2020
An innovative radiation treatment that could one day be a valuable addition to conventional radiation therapy for inoperable brain and spinal tumors is a step closer, thanks to new research led by University of Saskatchewan (USask) researchers at the Canadian Light Source (CLS).

Chicilo, F., et al. Physics in Medicine & Biology 65, no. 7 (2020): 075010.

News: Extending the lifespan of N95 masks

Posted on November 03, 2020
Through a collaboration between the Canadian Light Source (CLS) and the Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization-International Vaccine Centre (VIDO-InterVac)—both national research facilities at the University of Saskatchewan (USask), scientists hope to understand the structural changes happening inside N95 respirator masks after being sterilized for reuse. 

News: Powering the future of clean energy

Posted on October 26, 2020
The global quest for clean energy is championed by researchers in Canada who are focused on harnessing the potential of hydrogen. The idea of the hydrogen economy was first proposed 50 years ago as a way to combat the negative effects of fossil fuels. Its future is the focus of new research from the University of Toronto’s Thermofluids for Energy and Advanced Materials (TEAM) lab, whose work relied on the Canadian Light Source (CLS) at the University of Saskatchewan to visualize performance.

https://doi.org/10.1021/acsaem.0c01239

BMIT eNews: BMIT eNews | Spring 2020

Posted on September 21, 2020
- COVID-19 Call for Proposals (Deadline May 21) - Remote Access for microCT Data Reconstruction and Visualization Server - New Technique: Laminography - 300 Publications and Counting! - Cycle 32 Call for Proposals Results  - Around the Beamlines - Pictures of the Season

Call for Proposals: Special COVID-19 Rapid Access call for proposals

Posted on May 07, 2020
Seven weeks ago Saskatchewan imposed a State of Emergency to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic, resulting in CLS going into a warm-standby mode to protect our staff, clients and visitors. Premier Scott Moe recently announced a 5-phase plan to re-open Saskatchewan and emphasised that it is going to be a very gradual and methodical process. While current pandemic-related safety protocols prevent us from starting-up immediately, we want to prepare for when we are able to do so. Therefore, in an effort to help fight this global pandemic, we are announcing a special call for proposals for any work that will actively contribute to finding COVID-related treatments or vaccines, or improve conditions for frontline workers, including developing sensors and diagnostic tools or special surfaces with antiviral properties. The call is open to researchers from any institution, in any location. Priority will be given to proposals for the macromolecular crystallography (CMCF-BM) beamline, but proposals for other beamlines will also be considered. The call is limited to work that can be performed remotely, or by mail-in – external users will not be permitted on site. Please discuss the feasibility of your proposal with the appropriate beamline staff before submission. When we obtain permission to operate again, we will undergo critical maintenance with a limited staff complement. We cannot yet anticipate when we will have beamtime available, but it is unlikely to be before July. Due to ongoing safety restrictions, we are planning to operate for the remainder of that month for COVID-19 research only, and will consider extending this into August if there is sufficient demand. All proposals should be submitted through the COVID-19 proposal type in the CLS User Portal. The deadline for proposals is Thursday, May 21, and we will respond within two weeks. All proposals will be subject to technical review by our beamline staff, safety review by our Health, Safety and Environment team, and ethics review if required. In addition, proposals will be evaluated by a committee consisting of CLS Science Managers, chaired by the Science Director, and external experts as needed. For up-to-date COVID-19 CLS measures information please visit https://www.lightsource.ca/covid19.html

www.lightsource.ca/covid19_call_for_proposals

Beamline Update: Remote access for microCT data reconstruction and visualization server

Posted on May 07, 2020
Together with IT group at CLS we have enabled remote access to one of our reconstruction servers. Users can obtain remote access to 5-10 data sets at a time, reconstruct data, and use Avizo for visualization and data analysis directly on BMIT server. Please contact Dr. Adam Webb (adam.webb@lightsource.ca) for details and scheduling. Depending on the number of requests access duration may be limited to 2-3 days.

Call for Proposals: Cycle 32 call for proposals

Posted on February 03, 2020
Call for proposals for cycle 32 (July-December 2020) is now closed. The deadline for submission of new proposals or requesting beamtime against active proposals was February 26, 2020.

For more information click here.

News: Hiring a Summer Student

Posted on February 03, 2020
We are searching for summer student to help us to construct UV cleaning box for optical components and to assist with several other beamline projects. Background in mechanical/electrical engineering or engineering physics is an asset.    This position will be a full-time summer position starting on Monday, May 4th and concluding on Friday, August 28th or as discussed with the direct supervisor(s).

For more information click here.

News: Baking the Perfect Loaf

Posted on February 02, 2020
Ever since early humans discovered how to grind grain, the art of breadmaking has flourished and today bread is the most widely consumed food in the world. The apron has now been replaced by the lab coat as scientists seek to understand the intricacies of creating healthier, more consistent commercial bread products that meet changing consumer demands.

Sun, Xinyang, et al., The effects of sodium reduction on the gas phase of bread doughs using synchrotron X-ray microtomography. Food Research International (2019)

Local Events: Save the Date: CT Data Processing Using UFO-KIT and Dragonfly (May 20-22, 2020)

Posted on January 09, 2020
CLS’s Annual Users’ Meeting (AUM) will take place on Saturday, May 23, 2020. The AUM will include a full agenda of scientific presentations, facility updates, and a poster session wine and cheese with prizes. From May 20-22 (few days leading to AUM) BMIT will host a workshop on the fundamentals of tomographic reconstruction, 3D visualization, and quantitative data analysis. Advanced topics such as suppression of reconstruction artifacts, batch processing, and use of machine learning for segmentation will be also discussed. Affiliates from Dragonfly will be present for present capabilities of the software. * If you plan on attending the workshop, please kindly express your interest by sending an email to  Arash.Panahifar@lightsource.ca * Stay tuned for more details about full program and registration link!

Research Highlight: Wide field imaging energy dispersive X-ray absorption spectroscopy

Posted on January 09, 2020
Based on spectral K-edge subtraction imaging (developed at CLS-BMIT), a new energy dispersive X-ray absorption spectroscopy method is developed at BMIT-BM beamline for simultaneous wide-field imaging and transmission X-ray Absorption Spectroscopy (XAS). Sufficient energy and spatial resolution are demonstrated for both full field imaging and computed tomography in quantifying selenium chemical species.

BMIT eNews: BMIT eNews | Fall 2019

Posted on January 09, 2020
- CT Data Processing Using UFO-KIT and Dragonfly (May 20-22, 2020) - 10X magnification capability is now available - Cycle 32 Call for Proposals - Important Notes for Preparation of Proposals - Around the Beamlines - Pictures of the Season - Upcoming Conferences

Research Highlight: 3D Imaging of Hydrogen Induced Cracking in Pipeline Steel

Posted on October 07, 2019
Environmental conditions of service affect the resistance of pipeline steels to failure, as a result, the applied stress which would be otherwise considered safe can be responsible for fracture due to hydrogen induced cracking (HIC). Synchrotron 3D computed tomography (CT) at BMIT-ID beamline at Canadian Light Source was used to explain the features of the HIC cracks formation during tensile tests.

Research Highlight: Visualization of 3D Bioprinted Tissue Scaffolds Using Synchrotron-Based Phase Contrast Imaging

Posted on October 07, 2019
We developed the synchrotron-based x-ray inline phase contrast imaging-computed tomography (SR-inline-PCI-CT) at the Biomedical Imaging and Therapy (BMIT) Facility of Canadian Light Source to visualize the printed hydrogel-based scaffolds.

Research Highlight: Optimizing Middle-Ear Prostheses

Posted on September 12, 2019
The middle ear efficiently transmits vibrations of the eardrum caused by sound entering the ear canal to fluid in the cochlea, the end organ of hearing Pathologies of the middle ear bones, the malleus, incus and stapes, can disrupt the transmission of sound energy and lead to so called conductive hearing loss.

Research Highlight: Synchrotron X-ray Micro-CT of a 60 million years old salamander

Posted on August 20, 2019
A 60 million-year-old salamander fossil was imaged (inside rock) at BMIT ID beamline at 80keV X-ray energy.

BMIT eNews: BMIT eNews | Summer 2019

Posted on August 20, 2019
Summer 2019 update on research projects at BMIT

Research Highlight: Helping People to Hear

Posted on July 02, 2019
Using advanced techniques at the Canadian Light Source (CLS) at the University of Saskatchewan, scientists have created three-dimensional images of the complex interior anatomy of the human ear, information that is key to improving the design and placement of cochlear implants.

Li, Hao, Nadine Schart-Morén, Seyed Alireza Rohani, et al. "Synchrotron Radiation-Based Reconstruction of the Human Spiral Ganglion: Implications for Cochlear Implantation." Ear and hearing (2019).

Research Highlight: Investigation of growth at sutural sites in the presence of an external oscillatory mechanical stimulus using a swine model

Posted on April 22, 2019
Cranial sutures are the soft connective tissue that join skull bones. It is understood that a heightened stress/strain state at the suture site induces a biological response through growth and remodeling.  Investigators Owen Addison and Dan Romanyk are currently working to develop a fundamental understanding of how cranial sutures respond to an increased stress/strain state. 

Research Highlight: Transient, spatially resolved desaturation of gas diffusion layers measured via synchrotron visualization

Posted on April 22, 2019
The transient 3-D visualization of the desaturation process of flooded gas diffusion layers (GDLs) is presented for the first time. 

Research Highlight: Three‐Dimensional Orientation of Vascular Canals and Cross‐Sectional Geometry of Cortical Bone in Birds and Bats

Posted on April 22, 2019
In this study researchers examined the vascular canal network in the humerus and femur of a sample of 31 bird and 24 bat species using synchrotron micro‐computed tomography (micro‐CT) to look for a connection between canal orientation and functional loading.

BMIT eNews: BMIT eNews | Spring 2019

Posted on April 03, 2019
- February 2019 Success! - CLS Annual Users' Meeting (WEBCAST May 9, 2019) - Cycle 30 call for proposals  - New equipment at BMIT  - Around the beamlines  - Pictures of the season - New Publications  - Upcoming Conferences

Call for Proposals: Cycle 30 call for proposals

Posted on February 08, 2019
The Call for Proposals for Cycle 30 (June 1 to December 31 2019) is now open.  The deadline for submission is February 27, 2019. For details visit Apply for Beam Time.   

Local Events: CT Data Reconstruction Workshop

Posted on September 07, 2018
BMIT will host a Workshop-Tutorial on Synchrotron-based Computed Tomography (sCT) Data Processing on October 29-30, 2018. After a general introduction to sCT data collection procedures and data structure, participants will get hands-on experience in data reconstruction using the open-source framework, ufo-kit. The scope of exercises includes most frequently encountered reconstruction steps which will ultimately be put together in a shell or python script to enable batch-processing of the data. Theoretical and practical sessions are designed to introduce both synchrotron- and laboratory-based CT users to command-based reconstruction software and to show how to efficiently process large quantities of data. Dr. Tomas Farago (Karlsruhe Institute of Technology) who is one of principal co-developers of the ufo-kit software will be joining us as an invited speaker.

Program Details

Research Highlight: Imaging the inner ear

Posted on August 20, 2018
Imaging the inner ear promises to be new gold standard for hearing researchers Sensorineural hearing loss, which is caused by damage to sensory cells and nerve fibers in the cochlea, is incredibly prevalent, verging on what Iyer terms an epidemic. About 466 million people, including 34 million children, around the world suffer from it, and there is no cure. At the CLS, Iyer and her colleagues are showing that synchrotron light produces the kind of high-quality images needed to distinguish between healthy and damaged sensory cells and nerve fibers without having to remove the cochlea from the temporal bone. Their results were published in the August edition of the journal Biomedical Optics Express.

Beamline Update: CLS extends shutdown

Posted on July 30, 2018
CLS extends shutdown to repair electron gun  The Canadian Light Source is extending an unexpected shutdown to repair a critical piece of equipment. In order to complete the repairs, the CLS is cancelling user shifts until Nov. 16. Additionally, the CLS will not be issuing a call for proposals for new projects to be scheduledbetween Jan. and June 2019.

Research Highlight: Engineering 3D bio-printed scaffolds

Posted on July 26, 2018
Engineering 3D bio-printed scaffolds to help regenerate damaged peripheral nervous systems In the last decade or so, 3D printing has experienced a surge in popularity as the technology has become more precise and accessible. Now, researchers from the University of Saskatchewan are looking at how we can use 3D printing to help damaged nervous systems to regrow.

BMIT eNews: BMIT eNews | July 2018

Posted on July 06, 2018
Welcome Arash Panahifar, BMIT Associate Scientist Cycle 29: Call for proposals opens August 1 Cycle 28: Results of the Call Around the beamlines BMIT User Data Back-up on WestGrid Experiment Support at BMIT

Research Highlight: K-edge Subtraction Imaging of Barium and Strontium in Bone

Posted on June 07, 2018
University of Saskatchewan researchers investigated skeletal uptake of barium and strontium, as tracers of bone turnover, in two different age groups, growing and skeletally mature, in healthy rats. 

BMIT eNews: BMIT eNews | March 2018

Posted on March 23, 2018
Cycle 28 - Results of the Call Cycle 27 Updates  BMIT User Data Back-up on WestGrid New Equipment at BMIT

Research Highlight: Bubbles in Noodle Dough

Posted on February 07, 2018
A first look at how miniscule bubbles affect the texture of noodles The texture of a noodle is a remarkably complicated thing. When you bite into a spoonful of ramen noodles, you expect a bit of springiness (or a resistance to your bite) on the outside and a pleasantly soft give on the interior. These variations are so tiny as to be often overlooked, but they matter to noodle quality. A cross-disciplinary U of M team came together to examine these phenomena, harnessing the Canadian Light Source’s ability to quickly acquire detailed 3D images of solid and soft materials at the micron scale. Scanlon and Koksel provided expertise in how food processing affects the properties of various foods, as well as experience using the CLS facility. Physics professor John Page and post-doctoral fellow Reine-Marie Guillermic lent their expertise in ultrasonics, an acoustic technique used to evaluate dough properties, and their expertise in modelling the influence of bubbles on the ultrasonic signals. The team members took their dough to the BMIT beamline at the CLS, where they knew they would be able to get fast images with enough details to identify the bubbles as they evolved in the dough.

Research Highlight: Imaging the Middle Ear

Posted on January 02, 2018
Bright light allows researchers to see bone as well as tissue Getting good images of the middle ear and all its parts is tricky. But it’s needed for scientists who want to do things like repair damage or make devices to help aging middle ears function better.  According to the Canadian Health Measures Survey, about 20 per cent of adults aged 19 to 79 years have at least mild hearing loss in at one or both ears, while close to 47 per cent of adults aged 60 to 79 years have some level of hearing loss. Damage to the middle ear is a common contributor to hearing loss. “The CLS let us successfully image both the bone and soft tissue,” he said. Now, work can start on designing and building better implants and prostheses to help with hearing problems related to the middle ear.

Research Highlight: Advancing CF Research

Posted on October 05, 2017
Cystic fibrosis scientists discover abnormal response to lung infections Juan Ianowski, associate professor in the Department of Physiology at the University of Saskatchewan, and a team of 18 researchers have concluded that the genetic mutation that causes cystic fibrosis prevents normal secretion of airway surface liquid including mucus. Using a new imaging technique they developed at the Canadian Light Source, they determined that the production of airway surface liquid in response to bacteria is abnormal, and might lead to a cascade of infection and inflammation in lungs as the incurable disease progresses.

Research Highlight: Regenerating Heart Muscle

Posted on September 13, 2017
Scientist combines medicine and engineering to repair a damaged heart Regenerating heart muscle tissue using a 3D printer – once the stuff of Star Trek science fiction – now appears to be firmly in the realm of the possible. U of S researcher Mohammad Izadifar says he is combining medicine and engineering to develop ways to repair a damaged heart. “The problem is the heart cannot repair itself once it is damaged due to a heart attack.” he explained. Izadifar has conducted his research out of three places on campus – the College of Engineering, the CLS and the College of Medicine where he has been certified in doing open heart surgery on rats, having trained in all the ethical protocols related to these research animals. And thanks to the confirmation photo images he has from his collaboration with the CLS, Izadifar has already proven the 3D printed human cells, which he has dubbed the “heart patch,” can start to grow as intended in theory.

BMIT eNews: BMIT eNews | July 2017

Posted on July 20, 2017
- Welcome Sergey Gasilov, BMIT Scientist! - Cycle 26 Results - Cycle 27 - Call For Proposals Opens July 26 - Micro-CT Option for Cycle 27 Proposals - BMIT User Data Back-up on WestGrid - Experiment Support at BMIT - Shedding Light on Cardiac Regenerative Medicine

Local Events: FRAME Training School

Posted on December 20, 2016
FRAME Training School FRAME runs regular training schools in experimental design and statistics. Previous courses have been highly successful. FRAME has already held schools in association with universities throughout the UK, Europe and Scandinavia.   The next School will be held in conjunction with the University of Saskatchewan and the University of Nottingham in Canada from 31 May – 2 June, 2017. It will precede the Canadian Council for Animal Care’s (CCAC) national workshop. http://www.frame.org.uk/training-schools/

Local Events: CCAC-2017

Posted on December 20, 2016
CCAC National Workshop 2017 The CCAC is delighted to announce that the next National Workshop will take place in Saskatoon on Saturday, June 3, 2017. This one-day workshop is designed to provide participants with practical tools and information as well as the opportunity to network with peers and create new connections.

BMIT eNews: BMIT eNews | August 2016

Posted on September 01, 2016
- 2016 Summer BMIT Team - BMIT Staff Changes - Cycle 25 - Results - Seminar: Real-time Semiconductor Dosimetry in Radiation Therapy, Michael Lerch - Initial tests of the Wide Field of View Radiography and CT scanning on ID beamline. 

Local Events: CLS Seminar Notice

Posted on August 23, 2016
Real-time Semiconductor Dosimetry in Radiation Therapy SPEAKER: Michael Lerch, PhD, Associate Professor and Head of the School of Physics at UOW; Leader of the Radiation Detection and Instrumentation Theme within the CMRP. DATE: Tuesday, September 6, 2016 TIME: 11:15 a.m. PLACE:  CLS Rooms 2068A and 2068B

Local Events: Department of Anatomy & Cell Biology Seminar

Posted on August 09, 2016
Selected topics in musculoskeletal research –osteoporosis and other skeletal disorders DATE: August 11, 2016 TIME: 11:00 am PLACE: A226 Health Sciences

BMIT eNews: BMIT eNews | July 2016

Posted on July 31, 2016
- Call for cycle 25 opens. - BSO Update - POE-2 Door Issue. - BSO Update - SOE-1 lock-up pathway change. - CCAC assessment of BMIT  - BMIT user group growth. - BMIT Alternate Detector Holder System (ADHS).

BMIT eNews: BMIT eNews | June 2016

Posted on June 30, 2016
- BMIT staff outreach - summary. - MSK Imaging Tenure Track Positions. - Monochromatic Microbeam Radiation Therapy (m-MRT).

BMIT eNews: BMIT eNews | May 2016

Posted on May 31, 2016
- Cycle 25 planning. - BMIT Staff outreach. - Lab/hutches access requirements. - Creating a Better Tool to Predict Bone Strength in Humans.

BMIT eNews: BMIT eNews | April 2016

Posted on April 30, 2016
- Cycle 24 results. - BMIT Staff outreach plan. - Injection delays. - Studying model suspensions using high resolution PBI CT.

Local Events: BIOE 990 Seminar

Posted on April 18, 2016
Date and Time: April 20, 2016 (Wenesday) Location: 1B79 Engineering Building

Local Events: Café Scientifique-Saskatoon

Posted on April 18, 2016
"Storifying Science: Jounalists need great stories. Scientists have great stories to tell. Easy, right? Well, sometimes..." This month Café Scientifique-Saskatoon (co-organized by Dr. Julia Boughner and Michael Robin) presents a panel discussion with science journalists Andrea Hill (Star Phoenix), Bob Simpson (CTV) and scientist/executive director Toddi Steelman (School of Environment & Sustainability, USask). Join us for an evening of discussion with journalists and researchers as we explore what it takes to bridge the gap between complex science for professional scientists and exciting, engaging science stories for you and me. We also hope that this event will help connect local researchers and journalists to facilitate sharing exciting new science with the world. Date and Time: April 19, 2016 (Tuesday), 7:30 pm - 9:00 pm Location: Winston's Pub, downstairs.

Local Events: 3rd Annual Saskatchewan Cancer Research Conference (SCRC) 2016

Posted on April 18, 2016
Date: Wednesday, June 22nd 2016 Scientific conferences often act as a welcomed source of motivation for clinicians and scientists to come together and build a translational application that can be rapidly progressed to the clinics. Although there are large international cancer conferences such as the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) conferences, they often fail to connect people that work within a local neighborhood. Towards this, the Saskatchewan Cancer Research Conference (SCRC) directly aims to bring all basic scientists and clinicians within the province of Saskatchewan to one place in a single event. We expect that this annual conference will serve as a valuable networking and learning event for students, physicians and scientists that are driven towards one goal - finding breakthrough therapeutics.

Research Highlight: Studying model suspensions using high resolution synchrotron X-ray CT

Posted on April 14, 2016
OIl and Water  Researchers from the University of Sheffield used synchrotron X-ray CT to examine the fate of a water droplet in a suspension of sucrose and oil. 

Research Highlight: Non-destructive investigation of soft tissue preservation in amber

Posted on March 31, 2016
Preserved in Amber The plot of movies, soft tissue can be preserved in amber for many years. Palaeontologists from the Royal Saskatchewan Museum are investigating soft tissue preservation of insects trapped within amber. The team has examined beetles, ants and wasps that range from 17 to 98 million years old in age. 

BMIT eNews: BMIT eNews | March 2016

Posted on March 31, 2016
- Invite BMIT staff to your lab. - Images of Research competition: call for submissions. - CLS Graduate Student Travel Award Program. - Non-destructive investigation of soft tissue preservation in amber using SR X-ray µCT.

BMIT eNews: BMIT eNews | February 2016

Posted on March 02, 2016
- Call for proposals - Invite BMIT staff to your lab.  - New staff at BMIT - Xia Liu. - Improving Cochlear Implant Surgery.

Research Highlight: Improving Cochlear Implant Surgery

Posted on February 18, 2016
For a better sounding world A collaboration between Western University and the CLS to construct a high definition atlas of intracochlear anatomy using in-line phase contrast micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) imaging. The atlas will be used as a guide to design safer electrodes, to guide surgical insertion, and to optimize hearing outcomes.

BMIT eNews: BMIT eNews | January 2016

Posted on February 05, 2016
- Call for proposals - IEEE EMBS ISC 2016 - Invite BMIT staff to your lab. - Study of Lanthanum Compounds for the Treatment of Bone Density Disorders.      

Call for Proposals: Cycle 24 call for proposals

Posted on January 04, 2016
Now open. Closes February 24, 2016

BMIT eNews: BMIT eNews | December 2015

Posted on January 04, 2016
- 2015 in (technical) review / 2016 outlook - SYNC 801    

BMIT eNews: BMIT eNews | November 2015

Posted on December 02, 2015
- BSO Reminder - MASR Conference - Beamline review - Shutdown Activities Updates on Energy Dispersive Biomedical Imaging System.

Research Highlight: Energy Dispersive Biomedical Imaging System

Posted on November 30, 2015
One beam with two K-edges! Development has been done a multi-enegy X-ray imaging system using a novel bent Laue crstal system. The focused beam hits the sample and then spreads out before reaching the detector. This results in an image where the horizontal relates to energy.

News: 8-th Medical Applications of Synchrotron Radiation (MASR) conference, 5-8 October 2015

Posted on October 08, 2015
  Location: Grenoble & Villard de Lans, France Date: 5-9 October 2015 - hosted by ESRF.   Held every 3 years, MASR is the premier event of the international community using synchrotron radiation X-rays to perform biomedical and clinical research. We look forward to welcoming you at the ESRF and in Villard de Lans!   For any information, please contact us at masr2015@esrf.fr

BMIT eNews: September 30-th, 2015

Posted on September 30, 2015
  - BSO Reminder - Figure 1 app - Imaging Bone Turnover using Spectral K-edge Subtraction Technique.

Research Highlight: Growth and hunting behaviour of hatchling Tyrannosaurus rex

Posted on September 08, 2015
Life of a baby dinosaur revealed Imaging of bones from young T.rex reveals insights into the lives of a hatchling (less than one year old) and a 3-4 year old T. rex the size of an adult human.  The hatching was growing as fast as a baby bird and both were hunting prey showing the vigorous activity of youth.

BMIT eNews: August 31-st, 2015

Posted on August 31, 2015
  - BMIT Beam Team Elections - Last Call - Cycle 23 call for proposals - closing tomorrow - Growth and hunting behaviour of hatchling Tyrannosaurus rex  

BMIT eNews: July 31-st, 2015

Posted on August 04, 2015
  - BMIT Beam Team Elections - Cycle 23 call for proposals is open - BMIT User Data Back-up on WestGrid - Merlin for Medipix3 detector - Cortical Bone Remodeling of the Rat Forelimb

Call for Proposals: Cycle 23 call for proposals

Posted on July 29, 2015
Opens July 29, 2015

Research Highlight: In-line Phase-Contrast Microcomputed Tomography

Posted on July 29, 2015
New Application for In vivo Imaging of Cortical Bone Remodeling of the Rat Forelimb In-line phase contrast was used to image cortical bone. Reducing the dose permits longitudinal imaging of live animals which provides direct and novel in vivo evidence of BMU behavior in 3D. Further development of such methodology promises to advance our understanding of fundamental bone biology which will enhance the efficacy of drug and physiological therapies for degenerative diseases such as osteoporosis.

Local Events: 2015 CLSI Open House

Posted on July 22, 2015
A big thank you to all the visitors we received at BMIT for the celebration of the CLS' ten-year anniversary! About 90 people were able to visit the BMIT facility, of the 1000+ who visited the CLS for the open house. The event was a very positive experience, and an excellent opportunity to show the public our facility and exhibit the exciting research done here. Thank you all for the support which made this event possible. Pictures from the event can be found here.

Local Events: 2015 Canadian Synchrotron Summer School (CS³)

Posted on July 20, 2015
Application of synchrotron tools for: Plant & Agricultural Science and Art, Art History, & Cultural Heritage The 2015 summer school aims to educate researchers about the capabilities of the Canadian Light Source (CLS) synchrotron. We invite scientists who have little or no previous experience with synchrotron-based techniques to apply for the school. Participation is limited to 10 participants in each theme to ensure everyone is able to participate in hands-on sessions.

Research Highlight: Visualizing degradation of 3D-printed tissue-engineered constructs

Posted on June 30, 2015
Using 3D printing to help grow new cartilage We employ 3d-printed hybrid biomaterials made of polycaprolactone (PCL) for structural support and cell-impregnated alginate hydrogels for biological functionality. Imaging is done using in-line phase contrast imaging computed tomography (in-line PCI-CT).

BMIT eNews: June 30-th, 2015

Posted on June 30, 2015
  - User survey - Website - CLS summer school - Open house - Schedule - 3D-printed bio-materials with in-line PCI-CT

BMIT eNews: May 31-st, 2015

Posted on May 31, 2015
  - Flat panel detectors - ICTMS in Canada - POE-2 user program - Plants with PCI

Research Highlight: Phase Contrast Imaging (PCI) enabling agricultural innovation

Posted on May 29, 2015
An X-ray for plants!  The team has developed a novel method of utilizing phase contrast imaging to identify plant structures. This is useful for studying the progression of disease, transport of minerals and water, and developmental biology.

BMIT eNews: April 30-th, 2015

Posted on April 30, 2015
  - Big data - Experiment support at BMIT - Preservation of amber inclusions  

Research Highlight: Investigating preservation of amber inclusions with x-ray µCT and soft x-rays

Posted on April 17, 2015
Frozen in time The team is investigating inclusions within amber deposits that are 17 to 100 million years old. The goal is to assess how preservation varies between deposits of different age and source tree. 

BMIT eNews: March 31-st, 2015

Posted on March 31, 2015
  - BSO update - MASR - 10 yr. Anniversary - X-ray energies app. - Cartilage engineering in situ

Research Highlight: Phase-Based X-Ray Imaging Techniques for Cartilage Tissue Engineering Assessments in Situ

Posted on March 31, 2015
Repairing nerves and cartilage The tissue engineering team at the University of Saskatchewan is working on artificial tissue which will allow for the repair of cartilage and nerve tissue. 

News: Students on the Beamlines program continues to inspire

Posted on March 18, 2015
Government of Canada announces three-year funding Students on the Beamlines is an authentic and immersive science research experience for high school students. It is unique in that the students are the scientists in charge of their research, and they get to use Canada’s only synchrotron. Mentors help students develop research that is not demonstration, but that may produce novel information that is of interest to the scientific community.

BMIT eNews: January 31-st, 2015

Posted on January 31, 2015
  - Call for proposals open - 05B1-1 4 yr. Summary - Compute Canada Globus - Bone cells

Research Highlight: Healthy Bees

Posted on January 31, 2015
How fungus changes bees High school students from Quebec visited BMIT to image honey bees- comparing healthy bees to those infected by a fungus which targets Canadian honey bees. 

BMIT eNews: December 31-st, 2014

Posted on December 31, 2014
      - 2014 summary - Dosimetry non-compliance - New emergency buttons - Piglet scan

BMIT eNews: November 31-st, 2014

Posted on November 30, 2014
  - Proposals results - BMIT collaborative projects opening - Oil recovery

BMIT eNews: October 31-st, 2014

Posted on October 31, 2014
  - Fall shutdown review - Lab regulations - Dental fillings ex vivo with CT

BMIT eNews: September 30-th, 2014

Posted on September 30, 2014
  - Working to fix cycle 21 call for proposals - Safety message - High power beamline commissioning

BMIT eNews: August 31-st, 2014

Posted on August 31, 2014
  - Synchrotron graduate courses - UAC election results - Cystic fibrosis with PCI

News: New synchrotron imaging technique reveals how cystic fibrosis makes lungs vulnerable to infection

Posted on August 18, 2014
Previously unknown component of our innate immune defense discovered University of Saskatchewan researchers working at the Canadian Light Source (CLS) synchrotron have developed a new imaging technique that reveals a hitherto unknown component of the immune system in the lungs, one that promises insights that could benefit cystic fibrosis patients. Their findings are published today in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS).

BMIT eNews: July 31-st, 2014

Posted on July 31, 2014
  - Proposals walk-through - Summer school & software roundup - Mouse lung vasculature

News: An ancient killing reveals genetic anomaly

Posted on July 02, 2014
BMIT on Radio Canada International! The jaw of a Siberian man who was killed about 4,000 years ago, has revealed some interesting facts. Researchers at the University of Saskatchewan using the Biomedical Imaging and Therapy (BMIT) beamline at the Canadian Light Source synchrotron were able to study the jaw of the man to find out the details.

BMIT eNews: June 30-th, 2014

Posted on June 30, 2014
  - ESRF highlights - Call for proposals change - Osteoarthritis with PCI-CT

News: Wrong Place at the Right Time

Posted on June 18, 2014
Siberian Bronze Age skull reveals secrets of ancient society Unlike most hunter-gatherer societies of the Bronze Age, the people of the Baikal region of modern Siberia (Russia) respected their dead with formal graves. These burial sites are a treasure trove for archeologists and one particular specimen was so unique that bioarchaeologist Angela Lieverse traveled across the world just to bring it back to the Canadian Light Source synchrotron for examination.   Google Maps. Lake Baikal. Web. 30 July 2015.

BMIT eNews: May 31-st, 2014

Posted on May 31, 2014
  - User support award for George (#2!) - Change room access cards - Lung air-blood transfer

Research Highlight: Assessing the Gas Transfer between Air and Blood Using Multi-Energy High Resolution Imaging

Posted on May 31, 2014
How diseased lungs are different The Ford group likes to watch rats breathe, comparing the relationship between airways and blood vessels in rats with pulmonary diseases.

BMIT eNews: April 30-th, 2014

Posted on April 30, 2014
  - 9 summer school spots left - THRUST proposal call open - Rhodnius prolixus with CT

News: How to prevent osteoporosis

Posted on April 30, 2014
David Cooper, Canada Research Chair in synchrotron bone imaging His research at the CLS includes imaging human bones at a variety of scales, from across the human lifespan, noting how bones change with age and how the changes differ between genders.

Research Highlight: Thermoregulation in the Blood-Feeding Insect Rhodnius Prolixus, the Vector of Chagas’ disease

Posted on April 30, 2014
Helping prevent the spread of disease Researchers from Saskatchewan and France are learning about how this insect pumps our hot blood through its cold body without dying. Understanding the mechanism with which the insect pumps our blood will help us combat its nefarious disease-spreading activities. 

BMIT eNews: March 31-st, 2014

Posted on March 31, 2014
  - Commissioning opportunity - Radiation therapy training school - First 05ID-2 images

News: Say “cheese”

Posted on March 06, 2014
New look at embryonic teeth could prevent problems later in life Dr. Julia Boughner is using a new 3D imaging technique which could help prevent teeth and jaw problems through early intervention by identifying incoming wisdom teeth, crowded teeth, and malocclusion - all before they have time to start. Boughner has also used this research to look at the evolutionary development of humans through the size and shape of the mouth. She points out that our early human ancestors had much bigger teeth and jaws than modern humans.

BMIT eNews: February 28-th, 2014

Posted on February 28, 2014
  - Higher parking fees - BSO updates - Beam expander update

Research Highlight: Beam Expander Update

Posted on February 28, 2014
BMIT- bigger and better With much ingenuity, the available height of a BMIT image has been increased tenfold without ANY loss of flux or phase coherence. George almost died.

BMIT eNews: January 31-st, 2014

Posted on January 31, 2014
  - Summer school - Dosimeter rack - 2013 summary - Fangtooth

Research Highlight: Fangtooth- Deep Sea Fish Skeleton

Posted on January 31, 2014
Fangtooth helps in determination of oceanic pollutants A group of high school students from Montreal scanned our fanged friend to figure out whether it harbours significant levels of various pollutants, which would suggest that we humans have managed to spread our waste pretty much everywhere on earth.

BMIT eNews: December 20-th, 2013

Posted on December 31, 2013
  - Summer student opportunities - The Cancer Imaging Archive - MRT at ESRF

BMIT eNews: November 30-th, 2013

Posted on November 30, 2013
  - New silicon samurai - 05ID-2 commissioning update - Lungs of live mice with DEI

Research Highlight: DEI Breath Hold Imaging Of Mouse Lungs

Posted on November 30, 2013
Helping animals breathe Software has been developed for imaging the lungs of live animals with synchrotron radiation. The software can be used to take pictures of the lungs at animals' maximum and minimum lung capacities, then to subtract the images from one another to see the difference. Seeing the difference between the maximum and minimum images while the animals are still alive allows researchers to better understand lung diseases and animals' responses to various treatments.

Research Highlight: Grating Based Talbot Interferometer Imaging

Posted on October 31, 2013
We’re working on it It should be ready for users by July 2014.

BMIT eNews: October 31-st, 2013

Posted on October 31, 2013
  - SYRA3 - 18 to 100 plus keV in SOE-1 - Grating based Talbot interferometer imaging

BMIT eNews: September 30-th, 2013

Posted on September 30, 2013
  - BSR award - 05ID-2 status - Beam expander

Research Highlight: Beam Expander

Posted on September 30, 2013
BMIT can image giants Using a double bent Laue beam expander, a mouse can now be imaged laterally in a single shot.

BMIT eNews: August 31-st, 2013

Posted on August 31, 2013
    - SOE-1 radiation shielding up - New publications - Two K-edges with a single beam

Research Highlight: One Beam With Two K-Edges!

Posted on August 31, 2013
BMIT innovation Usually, if you have squares and circles in a sample, you have no choice but to look at an image which includes both the squares and the circles (superimposed upon one another- making it difficult to see anything useful). With two K-edges, you can have two completely different images- one with only squares, and one with only circles.   

BMIT eNews: July 31-st, 2013

Posted on July 31, 2013
        - In vivo imaging of cortical porosity by synchrotron phase contrast micro CT - Cycle 19 call for proposals - Soft tissue imaging of the temporomandibular joint using phase contrast and DEI

Research Highlight: Soft Tissue Imaging Of the Temporomandibular Joint

Posted on July 31, 2013
Helping diagnose arthritis of the jaw  Using standard hospital equipment, arthritis of the jaw can’t be detected until it’s too late... BMIT can help.

BMIT eNews: June 30-th, 2013

Posted on June 30, 2013
    - SRI summary - IEEE Nuclear Science Symposium and Medical Imaging Conference - Remodeling in bone disease  

Research Highlight: Synchrotron Imaging Of the Spatial Distribution of Barium in Bone to Understand the Role of Remodeling In Bone Disease

Posted on June 30, 2013
Your body treats your bones the way a kid treats Lego Your bones are constantly being destroyed and replaced by your body. One research team is using BMIT to figure out exactly how that process of destructive creation is affected by diseases like osteoporosis.

Research Highlight: Rapid Bubble Dynamics in Soft Solids

Posted on May 31, 2013
The quest for the perfect loaf of bread Imaging techniques at BMIT are helping refine the standard industrial bread-baking quality assurance ultrasound technologies which are currently in use.

BMIT eNews: May 31-st, 2013

Posted on May 31, 2013
  - SRI invitation - Lead safety - Rapid bubble dynamics in dough

Research Highlight: Novel Method of Dual-Energy X-Ray Analysis

Posted on April 30, 2013
Innovation at BMIT Dr. Midgley has been investigating DEXA for use in the characterisation of materials, with applications in analytical x-ray science- including medical imaging, radiotherapy treatment planning, and industrial nondestructive testing. 

BMIT eNews: April 30-th, 2013

Posted on April 30, 2013
  - Cycles 17 & 18 - 05B1-1 control room has moved - Dual-Energy X-ray Analysis (DEXA)

Research Highlight: Canine and Human Prostate Synchrotron Imaging

Posted on March 31, 2013
Prostate cancer kills- but it doesn’t have to Caught early, prostate cancer is highly curable. The problem is catching it early. Using BMIT, a University of Saskatchewan research team is studying prostate cancer in dogs in an effort to apply what they learn to increasing the ability of currently available hospital technology to diagnose prostate cancer at an earlier stage.

BMIT eNews: March 31-st, 2013

Posted on March 31, 2013
  - Limitations due to SR current - New access cards - Canine & human prostate imaging with CT

Research Highlight: Exploring Paleopathology from the Inside Out: A Synchrotron Investigation of Dental Pathology and Trauma

Posted on February 28, 2013
Point taken: An unusual case of incisor agenesis and mandibular trauma in Early Bronze Age Siberia Synchrotron imaging was used to diagnose two unusual but unrelated conditions. The first is one of the earliest cases involving dental agenesis, the failure of two front teeth to develop. The second, the embedded projectile tip, represents an almost certain deliberate assault that occurred at or around the time of death.

BMIT eNews: February 28-th, 2013

Posted on February 28, 2013
        - Synchrotron song - BMIT Future Directions Forum Summary - Dental paleopathology with CT

BMIT eNews: January 31-st, 2013

Posted on January 31, 2013
  - Address change - Breast cancer research grant - Mucus secretion - 2011/2012 summary

News: Federal Minister of State for Science and Technology Tours the CLS

Posted on January 23, 2013
Minister Goodyear in SOE-1 Minister Goodyear speaks with Josef Hormes, Executive Director of the Canadian Light Source, during a tour of the CLS on the University of Saskatchewan campus in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan.

Beamline Update: Beamlines of the Biomedical Imaging and Therapy Facility at the Canadian Light Source

Posted on January 01, 2013
05ID-2 overview We describe here the insertion device (ID) beamline 05ID-2 with the beam terminated in SOE-1 experimental hutch. This endstation is designed for imaging and therapy research primarily in animals from mice to humans to horses, as well as tissue specimens including plants.

BMIT eNews: December 20, 2012

Posted on December 31, 2012
  - Please welcome Ning - BMIT planning - Grating-based phase contrast

Research Highlight: Phase Grating Talbot Interferometry Imaging of Nephila Clavata (Tetragnathidae)

Posted on December 31, 2012
Spider Queen While imaging at SPRING-8, staff from BMIT were inspired to develop grating based Talbot interferometry.

BMIT eNews: November 30, 2012

Posted on November 30, 2012
  - Physics-based Simulation of Human Anatomy - First 05ID-2 image - Precision bending for crystal monochromators

Research Highlight: Precision Bending of Silicon Wafers for Bent Crystal Monochromators

Posted on November 30, 2012
High quality mono beam for less Improving bent crystal monochromators and studying the utility of silicon wafers as bent crystal optic components.

BMIT eNews: October 31, 2012

Posted on October 31, 2012
  - BMIT Future Directions Forum - Agarose at SPRING-8 after MASR - Pig bones with CT-DEI, CT-PCI, & planar DEI

Research Highlight: Tissue Engineering Research Group

Posted on October 31, 2012
Replacement body parts for all BMIT allows non-invasive monitoring of how well implanted tissue performs, and exactly where the implants are and/or are not healing.

BMIT eNews: September 30, 2012

Posted on September 30, 2012
  - Last chance for MASR - SOE-1 commissioning update - Lungs with DEI-MIR & DEI-CT

Research Highlight: “Lighting” Up the Lungs

Posted on September 30, 2012
Development of lung imaging The goal of this work is to develop synchrotron based imaging protocols suitable for live animal imaging and for functional evaluation and measurement of gross changes in the lungs.

BMIT eNews: August 31, 2012

Posted on August 31, 2012
  - The silicon samurai - Publishing and Reporting of Results - X-ray coherent scatter imaging

Research Highlight: X-Ray Coherent Scatter Imaging

Posted on August 31, 2012
Extracting information from "random" scatter X-ray scatter imaging uses the scattered radiation to augment conventional X-ray imaging. 

BMIT eNews: July 31, 2012

Posted on July 31, 2012
  - 05B1-1 call for proposals - ESRF - Effects of microbeam radiation therapy on DNA

Research Highlight: Cellular Response to Microbeam Radiation Therapy (MRT)

Posted on July 31, 2012
A precise radiation beam for cancer elimination A scientist from the University of Alberta is developing a method for using BMIT’s beam to kill cancerous tissue without harming the surrounding healthy tissue.

BMIT eNews: June 30, 2012

Posted on June 30, 2012
  - What x-rays see - Cycles 15, 16, &17 - Bone strength with micro CT

Research Highlight: Non-Invasive Estimation of Bone Strength

Posted on June 30, 2012
Do the pores in your bones bode ill for your future? Dr. Boyd and his team may be able to tell you.

BMIT eNews: May 31, 2012

Posted on May 31, 2012
  - Executive Update from Dean - Please welcome Rob - Human ovaries with phase contrast CT & DEI

Research Highlight: Synchrotron Imaging Of Human Ovaries ex Situ

Posted on May 31, 2012
The business of helping life come into this world is both messy and beautiful Improving soft tissue imaging, understanding ovarian cancer, and figuring the mechanisms through which infertility may occur.

BMIT eNews: April 30, 2012

Posted on April 30, 2012
  - Cycles 15 & 16 - SRI & MASR - Mucus secretion with PCI & DEI

Research Highlight: The Role of Staphylococcus Aureus on Mucus Secretion

Posted on April 30, 2012
How cystic fibrosis affects the mucus protecting us from pulmonary infection. Response of the airway submucosal gland to inhaled bacteria with and without cystic fibrosis.

News: Illuminating bones

Posted on April 17, 2012
Inspiring research David Cooper wants to know more about your bones. Specifically, the assistant professor of anatomy and cell biology at the University of Saskatchewan is trying to answer a chicken-and-egg question about osteoporosis: do changes in the density of cells within bones cause the disease, or does the disease cause the changes in cell density?

BMIT eNews: March 31, 2012

Posted on March 31, 2012
      - Human evolution from teeth - Incident reporting - Synchrotrons in health research class

Research Highlight: SYNC 801

Posted on March 31, 2012
A class about the application of synchrotron radiation to problems in the life sciences Covering the history of synchrotron light, interactions of light with matter, macromolecular crystallography, biomedical imaging, x-ray absorption imaging, and x-ray flurorescence imaging.

Research Highlight: In-situ 3D Investigation of Metallic Materials’ Failure Mechanisms

Posted on February 29, 2012
Measuring failure The bright x-rays of BMIT have allowed the Szpunar group to observe the failure of various materials at the micron level.

News: Synchrotron used for prostate research

Posted on February 02, 2012
BMIT on CBC News Saskatchewan! Saskatoon's light source synchrotron is being enlisted in the battle against prostate cancer.

Local Events: BMIT Research Symposium

Posted on February 01, 2012
Featuring:• Recent research results and progress reports from theBioMedical Imaging and Therapy beamlines at theCanadian Light Source•Tour of the BMIT facility•Opportunities to discuss future life science research usingBMIT and other beamlines at the CLS

BMIT eNews: January 31, 2012

Posted on January 31, 2012
          - 05B1-1 call for proposals - MRT Dosimetry and Planning Interest Group - Strontium in bones with micro CT & KES

Research Highlight: 3D Mapping Of Strontium in Bone

Posted on January 31, 2012
Strontium bone-strength supplements? We don't know exactly how useful strontium supplements are, but researchers are in the process of figuring it out. They feed rats strontium, and then watch how concentrations of the element in the rats' bones change over the rats' lives using micro Computed Tomography (uCT) and K-Edge Subtraction (KES) techniques.

Research Highlight: Human Factors Design for the BMIT Biomedical Beamlines

Posted on January 01, 2012
BMIT designed for ease of use At the BMIT beamlines, human factors considerations have been incorporated wherever possible, including in the design of software and hardware, as well as ease-of-use features of beamline control stations and experiment hutches. BMIT gears operation of the beamline to our unique user community of medical personnel, in addition to basic science researchers. User feedback continues to drive usability improvements to beamline operation.

News: Synchrotron gives U of R prof deeper look inside bones

Posted on December 28, 2011
BMIT on CTV News Regina! Some of the fossils he'll be looking at are from "Scotty," a Tyrannosaurus rex found in Saskatchewan in 1991.

BMIT eNews: December 19, 2011

Posted on December 19, 2011
  - Cobalt-60 - Recognition of user excellence - Happy holidays (blast from the past)

BMIT eNews: November 30, 2011

Posted on November 30, 2011
        - Cycles 14, 15, & 16 - Summer student opportunities - Better detectors for breast tissue biopsy samples  

Research Highlight: High Resolution a-Selenium (a-Se) X-Ray Detectors for Digital Mammography

Posted on November 30, 2011
Towards higher resolution mammography A prototype detector was tested in the development of high resolution detectors for digital mammography.

Research Highlight: Radiation Detectors for Micro-Beam Radiation Therapy

Posted on October 31, 2011
Precision dose measurements for radiation therapy The measurement of spatially resolved high doses in micro-beam radiation therapy is a challenging task requiring the combination of high dose response and high spatial resolution.

BMIT eNews: October 31, 2011

Posted on October 31, 2011
  - First live dog - Water leak - Microbeam Radiation Therapy

Research Highlight: Insect Flight Muscle Phase Polymorphism

Posted on September 30, 2011
Why are some locusts so lonesome? A research group at the University of Saskatchewan is using BMIT to develop an understanding of how the exoskeletons of two different groups within the same species of locust constrain the development of their flight muscles.  

BMIT eNews: September 30, 2011

Posted on September 30, 2011
  - Where it all began - New MSDS database - Locust with CT

Research Highlight: DEI Imaging of Growing and Inflamed Joints

Posted on August 31, 2011
Fighting early-onset arthritis The Rosenberg group is breaking new ground in the study of joint disease.

BMIT eNews: August 31, 2011

Posted on August 31, 2011
  - George receives user support award - Live animal imaging guide - Arthritis with DEI CT

Research Highlight: Investigating Clinical Applications of Synchrotron Imaging In Veterinary Medicine

Posted on July 31, 2011
Longitudinal survival studies with large animals The Sharma group is using BMIT for comparative analysis, surgical planning, live animal imaging, and building 3D teaching models.

BMIT eNews: July 31, 2011

Posted on July 31, 2011
  - New POE-2 user chicane - Collaborative live animal imaging development - Accuracy studies with BMIT CT, DEI, K-edge, & PCI standards

Research Highlight: Microfluidic and Nanofluidic Transport Phenomena

Posted on June 30, 2011
Understanding fluid flow at the micro- and nano-scale Measuring the behaviour of liquid water in a fuel cell provides new insights into the function of fuel cells and may lead to improvements in materials and design for low temperature fuel cells.

BMIT eNews: June 30, 2011

Posted on June 30, 2011
  - SAC highlights - Cycle 13 summary - PEM fuel cells with absorption imaging

Research Highlight: Measuring the Biomechanics of Normal and Pathological Joints

Posted on May 31, 2011
High resolution imaging of joints Dr. Wilson's group is helping improve diagnoses of joint problems by conducting stress analyses in the BMIT beam.

BMIT eNews: May 31, 2011

Posted on May 31, 2011
  - Please welcome Adam - Cycle 14 Scientific Review Results - Joint strain with CT

Research Highlight: Imaging Embryonic Tooth Development in Mouse

Posted on April 30, 2011
The teeth of mice and men Studying how teeth and jaws develop in a coordinated way over time.

BMIT eNews: April 30, 2011

Posted on April 30, 2011
  - Call for Beam Team nominations - Experimental data naming policy - Embryonic teeth with PCI

Research Highlight: High Resolution 3D Imaging of Cortical Bone

Posted on March 31, 2011
The dynamic microstructure of cortical bone Growth and development, functional adaptation, and deterioration with age and disease.

BMIT eNews: March 31, 2011

Posted on March 31, 2011
  - Call for proposals - 05B1-1 status - Vascular & cellular porosity of bone with micro CT

BMIT eNews: February 28, 2011

Posted on February 28, 2011
  - Training updates - BMIT trivia - First fresh human breast tissue with DEI

News: Advancing Nuclear Medicine – New U of S Initiatives

Posted on January 01, 2011
Saskatoon- a center of excellence for nuclear medicine  Building on its history of excellence in medical physics and accelerator technology, the University of Saskatchewan is well-positioned to lead the country in nuclear medicine, playing a lead role in biomedical imaging and nuclear research, development and training.

News: Medical Research for a Healthier Future

Posted on December 31, 2010
  Synchrotron Pushes the Limits of Medical Research A common theme among the research projects at BMIT is that they enable scientists to “see” what is going on in living systems at levels never before imagined. Greater accuracy, detail, sensitivity – all of these are pushing the boundaries of medical imaging. The resulting insights could be used to develop new diagnostic techniques and treatment protocols for some of today’s greatest health challenges.

Research Highlight: Options for Computed Tomography X-ray Imaging on BMIT

Posted on January 01, 2010
Summary of BMIT's current CT capabilities An overview of recent CT X-ray imaging studies of human and animal specimens conducted on the BMIT bending magnet (05B1-1) beamline is presented. Imaging was done at 20 keV, using a double crystal monochromator with a (2,2,0) silicon crystal set with ΔE/E ~ 10-5.

News: City Hospital Foundation pledges support for beamline research

Posted on October 08, 2009
Thank you!  Saskatoon City Hospital Foundation announced today a gift of $500,000 to help establish two biomedical beamlines at the Canadian Light Source synchrotron. “Our gift represents our commitment to supporting collaborative efforts in clinical care, research and teaching,” said Foundation Chair, Don George. “The two beamline facilities will advance research in two areas of particular interest to the Foundation – breast health and multiple sclerosis.”

News: First images from medical beamline at Canadian Light Source

Posted on December 23, 2008
A beautiful mouse A University of Saskatchewan (U of S)-led research team at the Canadian Light Source (CLS) synchrotron has received an early Christmas present. After several years of research, construction and testing, the unique-in-North-America BioMedical Imaging and Therapy facility (BMIT) captured its first X-ray images.

Research Highlight: 05ID-2: Superconductive Wiggler for BMIT Program

Posted on January 01, 2008
Optimized vertical field direction wiggler A wide variety of imaging and therapy experiments planned for BMIT facility require a unique radiation source with high brilliance, critical energy and a wide beam fan. An optimized, vertical field direction wiggler was designed and fabricated to provide 4.3 Tesla with a period length of 48 mm, critical energy range > 20keV, K-value > 19, stored energy of 27 kJ, inductance of 0.2 H and a pole gap of 14.5 mm.

Research Highlight: POE-2 Gas Bremsstrahlung Studies on 05ID-2 Beamline

Posted on January 01, 2007
Getting rid of gas radiation The BioMedical Imaging and Therapy (BMIT) ID beamline will be capable ofhuman research for both imaging and therapy applications. In preparation forthose programs, a study was undertaken designed to minimize and characterizeradiation from other sources than synchrotron radiation; i.e. gas bremsstrahlung.Gas bremsstrahlung is generated by the interaction of circulating electrons withthe residual gas molecules in the ring vacuum chamber and is produced all aroundthe storage ring.

Research Highlight: BMIT "MRT Lift" - A positioning system for biomedical imaging and therapy

Posted on January 01, 2007
Bigger and better The MRT lift is capable of moving and lifting samples and patients larger than any previous synchrotron biomedical positioning system. 

News: Province of Saskatchewan provides over $6 million for synchrotron beamline

Posted on March 20, 2006
Thank you! The University of Saskatchewan (U of S) received more than $6.2 million today from the province’s Innovation and Science Fund for the Biomedical Imaging and Therapy beamline (BMIT) at the Canadian Light Source synchrotron. The funding matches federal funding provided by the Canadian Foundation for Innovation.

News: 05ID-2 circa 2006

Posted on January 01, 2006
An early CAD model Showing the POE-2 control room, POE-3, & SOE-1.

News: Logo Contest

Posted on November 21, 2005
A fierce contest was held, and finalists were chosen from a battlefield littered with shattered hopes and dreams... You can see for yourself what the results were once all the votes came in. If the font of the winner looks familiar, it's because the font is from Blade Runner.

News: The Competition

Posted on November 17, 2005
One of the proto-competitors in the race to find a new logo Evidently, this one was influential.

News: BMIT logo, circa 2005

Posted on November 17, 2005
THE original BMIT logo It was subsequently replaced by means of democratic process.

Research Highlight: The Proposed BioMedical Imaging & Therapy Program

Posted on January 01, 2005
A healing light for research Designed for the purpose of imaging biological tissue and conducting radiation therapy using brilliant, monochromatic x-ray light.

Research Highlight: Preliminary study and Mechanical support design of Analyzer for Diffraction Enhanced Imaging

Posted on January 01, 2005
Solving problems which plague DEI Problems with the angle of the analyzer may be solved by a stiffer mechanical design.

News: The BioMedical Imaging and Therapy Research Beamline at the Canadian Light Source

Posted on December 31, 2003
BMIT in The Canadian Veterinary Journal! The energy of the photons spans the entire electromagnetic spectrum from far infrared to hard X-rays, and their brightness is approximately 106 brighter than the surface of the sun and 1010 brighter than conventional X-ray sources. The BioMedical Imaging and Therapy (BMIT) beamline may be the most interesting for veterinary scientists, because it will be the only beamline at the Canadian Light Source designed to accommodate live animals.