Close this window

Unsolved Problems and Unmet Needs in Magnetic Resonance
Daniel K. Sodickson, M.D., Ph.D., Organizer

Last updated 19 February 2009

Overview:
At the annual ISMRM meeting and in many of our professional interactions, we tend to focus on what we or others have recently accomplished in our areas of interest, or else we speculate together on current trends and promising future directions in MR research and practice. In the midst of all this lively and topical activity, the less satisfying questions of what we cannot but would very much like to achieve with MR receive little concentrated, collective attention. The morning sessions on Unsolved Problems and Unmet Needs in MR are intended to bring new attention to such questions. Over the course of four days, the top ten reviewed submissions from a prior call for abstracts on key problems and needs will be presented. The sessions will also include substantial time for open discussion, in order to promote interactions and to foster innovation.

Educational Objectives:
Upon completion of this session, participants should be able to:
• Identify and assess a sampling of key unsolved problems and unmet needs in the field of magnetic resonance;
• Establish criteria for successful solutions to such problems;
• Consider any large-scale coordination across our field or with other fields that may be called for to address some classes of
  research or clinical needs; 
• Identify and share additional unsolved problems or unmet needs in your areas of interest.

Audience Description:
These oral sessions are intended to bring together those with detailed knowledge of important clinical or research needs and those who seek to characterize and extend the limits of MR capabilities. All members of the MR community, including both clinicians and basic scientists, both established investigators and students or young investigators, are encouraged to attend. The sessions are expected to be of particular value for students who may be looking for research problems of importance. They are also targeted at clinicians and researchers interested in potential collaborations on high-impact problems.

Note: In order to continue the discussion after this year’s meeting, results from the morning sessions and from the abstract solicitation will be posted on the ISMRM Website, and an online list of unsolved problems and unmet needs will be maintained and updated thereafter, serving as a resource for new entrants into the field, as a point of reference for funding organizations or other interested observers, and as an ongoing challenge for established investigat
ors.

 

Program

Tuesday, 9 May
What are we missing?  Seeing through metal and devining with RF coils
07:00 Introduction Daniel K. Sodickson, M.D., Ph.D.
07:15 Techniques for MR Imaging Near Metallic Implants Garry E. Gold, M.D.
07:30 Prospects of Absolute B1 Calibration Florian Wiesinger
07:45 Open Discussion
Wednesday, 10 May
Can MRI provide a noninvasive biopsy?
07:00 Cytoarchitectonic MRI:  Can MRI Be Used to Quantify Neural Tissue? Itamar Ronen, Ph.D.
07:15 Tissue Structure through Diffusion and Transverse Relaxation Measurements Valerij G. Kiselev, Ph.D.
07:30 Unresolved Issues in Diffusion and Perfusion MRI:  A Consensus from the Study Group Derek K. Jones, Ph.D.
07:45 Open Discussion
Thursday, 11 May
Will new contrast agents revolutionize MRI?
07:00 Exclusively MRI - Based Molecular Imaging:  Can Magnetic Labeling of Physiologically Important Compounds via DNP or Parahydrogen-Induced Hyperpolarization Provide a Potential Supplement or Replacement of PET? Joachim Bargon, M.D.
07:15 Direct Detection of Neuromodulation Rachel Katz-Brull, Ph.D.
07:30 Development of Status Tracers for Myocardial Perfusion Imaging by MRI Timothy F. Christian, M.D.
07:45 Open Discussion
Friday, 12 May
Do we need a virtual scanner, and do we understand real ones?
07:00 Need for a Non-Commercial Open-Source MR Simulator Ralf B. Loeffler, Ph.D.
07:15 Does the Principle of Reciprocity Hold at High Field MR? Jinghua Wang, Ph.D.
07:30 Open Discussion
07:45 Conclusion Daniel K. Sodickson, M.D., Ph.D.