Sir Peter Mansfield, the scientist who invented the MRI scanner in Nottingham, has died.
Sir Peter made the famous breakthrough at the University of Nottingham in 1977, which led to MRI, or Magnetic Resonance Imaging, being used in hospitals all over the world. He was 83.
His family said in a statement: “It is with great sadness that Lady Mansfield and family would like to announce the passing away of Sir Peter, on Wednesday evening, 8th February.
“As well as being an eminent scientist and pioneer in his field, he was also a loving and devoted husband, father and grandfather who will be hugely missed by all the family.”
His death comes less than a month after a £9 million investment was unveiled to upgrade the facilities at the University of Nottingham and Queen’s Medical Centre, which are named the Sir Peter Mansfield Imaging Centre.
Sir Peter won a Nobel Prize in 2003 for his contribution to physiology and medicine and had a tram named after him in 2015.
He was born in London in 1933 and moved to Nottingham to become a lecturer at the department of physics at the University of Nottingham in 1964.
In 1968, Sir Peter was appointed senior lecturer and it was during this time he and his colleagues were credited with the invention of the MRI scanner.
He was made Professor for the department of physics in 1990 and held the position until he retired in 1994.
Nottingham City Council Leader Jon Collins said: “We are immensely proud of the life-changing and Nobel Prize winning contribution that Sir Peter Mansfield made to medical science and I’m very sorry to hear he has passed away.
“Nottingham showed its pride and respect for Sir Peter by making him an Honorary Freeman of the city, which not only recognised his contribution to the world but also the inspiration he has provided to Nottingham people.”
Professor Sir David Greenaway, Vice-Chancellor of the University, also paid tribute.
Sir David said: “Few people can look back on a career and conclude that they have changed the world. In pioneering MRI, that is exactly what Sir Peter Mansfield has done, he has changed our world for the better.
“As a scientific leader and a highly prized colleague, he will be greatly missed in our University. But he has left an extraordinary legacy which will continue to inspire others to change the world.”
Sir Peter married Jean Margaret Kibble in 1962 and had two children.
In 1993 he was knighted for his service to physics and received the Garmisch-Partenkirchen Prize for MRI in 1995 as well as the Gold Medal of the journal Clinical MRI.
A book of condolences has been set up the University of Nottingham.
