SCIENTISTS at a city university are working on new technology to make walk-through X-ray scanners a reality – and it has just received a multi-million pound Government grant.

The project, named InlightenUs, hopes to create airport-style walk-through X-ray scanners by 2050, which will be able to quickly spot any issues in patients

Involving the University of Southampton – but led by the University of Edinburgh, the project is to receive £5.4 million to develop its medical imaging technology that uses a combination of artificial intelligence and infra-red lasers to quickly produce high-resolution, 3D medical images to help identify diseases.

It is among six projects to receive Government investment under plans to boost healthcare research and development (R&D) spending.

A total of £32 million in investment has been pledged.

Making the announcement during a speech on R&D at London Tech Week, Science Minister Amanda Solloway said: “The pioneering projects we are backing today will help modernise healthcare, improving all of our lives now and into the future.

“Today’s announcement is part of our ambitious R&D Roadmap and underlines our commitment to back our incredible scientists and researchers and invest in ground-breaking research to keep the UK ahead in cutting-edge discoveries.”

Other projects to receive backing include a new, non-invasive system for monitoring the brain, which researchers say could help scientists gain a better understanding of neurological diseases such as Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s.