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Advanced imaging technologies for diagnosing disease go under the microscope

The importance and future developments of advanced imaging technologies, including Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), is the theme of the University of Kent's Centre for BioMedical Informatics annual symposium on 1 May 2008.

The aim of the symposium, the third of its kind at the University, is to bring together leaders in the fields of medical and scientific imaging to explore recent advances in diagnosing disease, the development of new medicines and in understanding the fundamental processes of life.

Delegates include: MRI pioneers Professor Dorothee Auer from the University of Nottingham and Professor Derek Hill from the Centre for Medical Image Computing, University College London; Dr. Dan Mulvihill, Research Fellow, Department of Biosciences, University of Kent; Professor Justin Malloy, MRC National Institute for Medical Research at Mill Hill; and Professor Adrian Podoleanu, Professor of Biomedical Optics at the School of Physical Sciences, University of Kent.

Dr Anthony Baines, Reader in Molecular Cell Biology at the University of Kent and the Director of the Centre for BioMedical Informatics, said: 'Advances in our ability to visualise the human body - whether at the level of whole tissues, or single cells - now make possible early intervention in disease and development of new treatments in ways undreamt of even a few years ago.

'Through this symposium, we hope to give a sense of the latest developments and future trends, and to debate the challenges facing researchers in this exciting area of bioMedical science.'

Formed in 2006, the Centre for BioMedical Informatics fosters collaborative research and postgraduate teaching in the broad area of biomedical informatics, a discipline that uses information and computer technology to investigate scientific and health issues that cross the boundaries between basic biological sciences and applied medical science. The Centre builds on a thriving culture of collaboration between several departments in the University of Kent's Faculty of Science, Technology and Medical Studies. These include the Department of Biosciences, Computing Laboratory, Kent Institute of Medicine and Health Sciences, the Institute of Mathematics, Statistics and Actuarial Science, the School of Physical Sciences and the Department of Electronics.

Contact: mediaoffice@kent.ac.uk

Story published at 3:51pm 30 April 2008