2026 ISMRM Workshop: White Matter MR Imaging and Beyond - PROJECT SUMMARY Diseases of the central nervous system (CNS) are a significant public health and economic problem, and white matter of the CNS is implicated in nearly all human neurological diseases/injuries. The overall aim of the White Matter and Beyond workshop is to bring together leading experts, emerging investigators, and innovators in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to explore the next frontiers of research in white matter. This meeting will foster interdisciplinary exchange on the latest advances in MRI technologies, biophysical modeling, and analytics of white matter, while expanding our focus to also encompass the related microstructural, inflammatory, and metabolic processes that define brain and spinal cord health. It is essential for researchers to come together to share knowledge and map the next phase of research and translation to improve outcomes from white matter diseases and injury. The International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine (ISMRM) workshop on White Matter and Beyond, will be held in Marseille, France, October 14-16, 2026. The ISMRM is a US-based scientific association whose purpose is to promote communication, research, development, and applications in the field of magnetic resonance in medicine and biology. Its multidisciplinary membership consists of over 8,000 clinicians, physicists, engineers, biochemists, and technologists. This in-person workshop offers the opportunity for discussions, networking, and interaction between trainees and established researchers. The scientific program spans multi-disciplinary aspects of white matter MRI from technical method development to fundamental physical insights to applications to human diseases and injury to white matter. Each session is anchored with a physicist/engineer to provide an overview of state-of-the-art methods, highlighting promising avenues and interesting clinical applications. It will appeal to neurologists, radiologists, physicists, engineers, and regulatory experts with interests in quantitative, biophysical, and reproducible MRI. Poster presentations are an integral part of the program and will be advertised in power pitch presentations. The workshop is being organized by an international team of investigators with administrative assistance from the ISMRM and facilitated by a local organizing team. This proposal requests funds to exclusively support students and postdoctoral trainees and will be used to cover conference registration costs and partial travel support. Speakers will be chosen based on scoring of submitted abstracts by the organizing team. This support will provide a unique opportunity for trainees and junior researchers to reach an international audience, enhancing their career development and collaborations.
