The University of Alberta Hospital is entering a new era of X-ray imaging with the installation of Alberta's first photon-counting CT scanner. This cutting-edge technology has been placed in the Suncor Energy Diagnostics Imaging Unit, as announced by the University Hospital Foundation in a Tuesday news release. The purchase was first disclosed in October 2025 and was partially funded by a $1.5-million investment from Suncor.
Transformative Patient Care
Dr. Jodi L. Abbott, president and CEO of the University Hospital Foundation, emphasized the impact on patient experience. "This is about fundamentally changing how patients experience care — from the anxiety of waiting to the confidence of getting answers quickly and accurately," she said in the release. "Thanks to the generosity of our donors and partners like Suncor, we're able to bring transformative innovations like this to the University of Alberta Hospital, advancing earlier detection, improving the patient journey and helping care teams deliver the kind of precision medicine that defines the future of health care."
How Photon-Counting CT Works
First introduced in 2021, photon-counting CT (PCCT) scanners convert each photon—particles of light—produced by a scan into an electrical signal. This allows them to "count" each photon and ultimately produce a clearer image, according to a 2024 study by the Canadian Agency for Drugs and Technologies in Health. However, these scanners cost "three to five times more than conventional CT scanners."
Benefits Over Conventional CT
PCCT scanners deliver higher-resolution images at faster speeds than previous devices, with 60 percent lower radiation exposure. This represents a significant advancement in medical imaging technology.
Support from Suncor
Suncor CFO Troy Little expressed pride in supporting the initiative. "We are proud to support the University Hospital Foundation in bringing advanced medical imaging to the University of Alberta Hospital and to see this technology in place," he said in the release. "By investing in this next-generation scanner, we are helping ensure patients and health-care teams have access to the tools they need for faster and more accurate diagnoses and improved care."
The installation marks a milestone for Alberta's health care system, offering enhanced diagnostic capabilities for patients.
