Private company

British Institute of Radiology

Logo: British Institute of Radiology, Non-free logo, via Wikipedia4

Professional society for medical imaging1

The British Institute of Radiology (BIR) is a radiology society and charity based in London, United Kingdom. It is the oldest institute of its kind in the world, forming on 2 April 1897.2 Wikipedia text CC BY-SA 4.0

Last updated Oct 21, 2026.

Overview

  • HeadquartersLondon1
  • Websitewww.bir.org.uk
  • Legal formCHARITY3
  • LEI213800USVG33MYV54M253
  • StatusActive3
  • LEI statusLapsed (not renewed)3
  • Registered addressC/O BRITISH INSTITUTE OF RADIOLOGY, EC1N 6SN London, United Kingdom3
  • Registered withCharity Commission for England and Wales, 2158693

The British Institute of Radiology (BIR) is a radiology society and charity based in London, United Kingdom. It is the oldest institute of its kind in the world, forming on 2 April 1897.2

The story

The society can be traced back to two separate institutes, "The X-Ray Society" in April, 1897, and "The Röntgen Society"; both were formed in the wake of the discovery of X-rays by Wilhelm Röntgen in 1895. The latter was founded by Dr John Macintyre in 1897. He had been the first person in Britain to use X-rays, using equipment created by William Thomson, Lord Kelvin at Glasgow Royal Infirmary on 5 February 1896.

The formalisation of the BIR occurred in 1927 upon the merger of the two societies. The BIR became a registered charity in 1963.

Among other publications, the BIR publishes several journals including the British Journal of Radiology (BJR), and Dentomaxillofacial Radiology (the official journal of the International Association of Dentomaxillofacial Radiology, IADMFR). The Archives of Clinical Skiagraphy, first published in 1896, ultimately became the BJR in 1928.

From Wikipedia’s article on British Institute of Radiology, shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.5

Former names

  • The British Association for the Advancement of Radiology and Physiotherapy1917 to 19241

Timeline

  1. Oct 30, 1963Founded British Institute of Radiology is founded3
  2. 1924Renamed Name changed to British Institute of Radiology1