Medical Imaging - from the cell to the mind

Media Release

19 July 2005

Medical Imaging - from the cell to the mind

The central role that medical imaging plays in the diagnosis of diseases and research will be explored in the 2005 Winter Lectures at The University of Auckland starting on July 26.

Series co-convenor Dr Brett Cowan, an international expert in cardiac imaging and Director of the University's Centre for Advanced MRI (magnetic resonance imaging), says medical imaging has become an essential part of medical research, teaching and practice.

"The Nobel Prize for Medicine in 2003 was awarded to the inventors of MRI, a technology that has revolutionised medical diagnosis," says Dr Cowan.

"While MRI is one of the more recent developments in imaging technology, the Winter Lectures will trace the history of medical imaging from the development of X-rays just over 100 years ago to today's state-of-the-art imaging capabilities."

The series of lectures over six weeks will look at the impact of medical imaging on everything from cells to the eye, heart and brain.

Topics will cover imaging of the mind, the latest techniques to image the eye and improve visual function, improving diagnosis and treatment of heart diseases, a virtual simulator which assists in the treatment of hip fractures, and the economics and ethics of whole-body MRI screening.

"The speakers are all authorities in their field and will demonstrate how leading technology is being used to advance research and diagnosis," says Dr Cowan, director of the country's only centre dedicated to high-level MRI research.

The lectures, outlined below, are being held from 1-2pm in the Maidment Theatre, 8 Alfred Street, Auckland. Admission is free and all are welcome.

LECTURE 1 - JULY 26 A century of medical imaging: From X-rays to MRI A brief history of medical imaging technology and its significance to medicine

Emeritus Professor Sir John Scott, University of Auckland

Radiology before the digital era

Dr John Wattie, Radiologist

LECTURE 2 - AUGUST 2 Through the microscope lens into the world of the cell Calcium sparks in the heart

Professor Mark Cannell, Professor of Physiology, University of Auckland

Cellular images of the brain

Dr Johanna Montgomery, Department of Physiology, University of Auckland

LECTURE 3 - AUGUST 9 Making our own images: The human eye What we see, how we perceive, imaging the human eye

Professor Charles McGhee, Maurice Paykel Professor of Ophthalmology, University of Auckland

Professor Colin Green, W&B Hadden Professor of Ophthalmology, University of Auckland

LECTURE 4 - AUGUST 16 Insights into medical imaging and image-guided intervention in 2005

Associate Professor Andrew Holden, Director of Interventional and Body Imaging Services,

Auckland City Hospital, and Associate Professor of Radiology, University of Auckland

Dr Phil Blythe, Department of Anatomy with Radiology, University of Auckland

LECTURE 5 - AUGUST 23 A Snapshot of the Future: Seeing the mind and heart at work Seeing the mind at work

Dr Brett Cowan, Director of the Centre for Advanced MRI, University of Auckland

The heart at work

Professor Peter Hunter, Director of the Bioengineering Institute, University of Auckland and Director of Computational Physiology at Oxford University

LECTURE 6 - AUGUST 30 Whole-body screening for disease: Looking for needles in a haystack

Dr Paul Brown, School of Population Health, University of Auckland

Dr Martin Wilkinson, School of Population Health, University of Auckland

ENDS

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