PROJECT SUMMARY
The field of magnetic resonance (MR) is evolving rapidly, growing in both technology development and range
of applications. The rapid evolution of computer and hardware technology and the growing processing capacities
and cloud based opportunities, are stimulating rapid evolution of MR capabilities. Meanwhile, MR has long been
an indispensable tool not only for basic discovery but also for medical diagnostics, while the value proposition of
clinical MR imaging is also changing, against the backdrop of a shifting healthcare landscape.
There is a palpable need to explore the full scope of these changes, in a forum that enables deep dives and
focused discussion, without losing the necessary breath of perspective. While large meetings such as the annual
scientific meeting of the International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine (ISMRM) have the necessary
breath, the sheer size and pace of such meetings work against the requisite focus. On the other hand, short
focused workshops are better suited to the evaluation of progress in well-defined subfields.
The goal of this grant application is to support a high-impact conference with a time-tested format which is
ideally suited to assess recent changes in the field of in vivo MR. The eleventh Gordon Research Conference
(GRC) on In Vivo Magnetic Resonance will be held July 17 to 22, 2022, at Proctor Academy, in Andover, NH.
Our GRC will also be associated with a trainee-organized and trainee-focused Gordon Research Seminar (GRS)
on In Vivo Magnetic Resonance, which will take place on the weekend before the GRC (July 16,17, 2022). The
trainee seminar meshes well with our goal of preparing young scientists for MRI research in a rapidly evolving
landscape by combining focused learning with networking and mentorship. We request funding to support
graduate students and postdoctoral fellows attending these meetings.
The GRC, subtitled “Identifying the next 20 years of need in In Vivo MR,” will celebrate this, the 20th
anniversary meeting with presentations of state of the art knowledge as well as brainstorming of the needs for
the next 20 years. The Chair, Jeff F Dunn PhD, and Vice Chair Kim Butts Pauly PhD, will build upon a rich history
of In Vivo MR GRCs. The GRS will be led by Manushka Vaidya, Ph.D. (University of California San Francisco)
and Melissa Haskell, Ph.D. (University of Michigan and will further enhance the experience of trainees with tailored
opportunities for mentorship, networking, and scientific exchange.
Specific aims of our 2022 GRC and GRS on In Vivo MR are as follows:
1. Build on experience from the past 20 years to brainstorm the MRI development and application needs of
the next 20 years
2. Foster connections between MR programs in and outside of the USA
3. Prepare young scientists for career progression and to make a difference in the field of MRI