Studies of the lung function of newborn rabbits by Monash University researchers have revealed it can take more than two hours for the lungs to fully fill with air, a finding that could lead to better ways to treat premature babies who may have to be artificially ventilated because their lungs are not fully developed.

Professor Rob Lewis, director of the Monash Centre for Synchrotron Science, will discuss this research and other medical uses of synchrotrons when he addresses the Australasian High Energy Physics and Medical Physics conference in Christchurch today.

In the first experiment of its kind using live animals, the Monash team has studied how fluid is cleared from the lungs after birth by taking X-ray images of the rabbits' lungs immediately after they are delivered by caesarean section.

"With synchrotrons, much improved contrast, lower dose, and greatly enhanced resolution are all possible," Professor Lewis says. "These improvements are realised by exploiting different physical principles to conventional X-ray absorption radiography. The Australian Synchrotron, opening at Monash University in 2007, will bring these advantages to the Australasian community."

Synchrotrons are machines about the size of a football field that accelerate electrons to close to the speed of light. Intense light in a range of wavelengths is produced when the fast-moving electrons are forced by magnetic fields to change direction. This light can be used to study the structure of objects down to the atomic level.

In June, New Zealand's Minister for Research, Science and Technology, Steve Maharey, officially confirmed New Zealand's contribution of AU$5 million as a foundation beamline partner of the Australian Synchrotron.

As a foundation partner, New Zealand scientists will have access to a pool of time set aside for those contributing capital to the project, ensuring New Zealand remains globally competitive across a range of science areas.