Advanced Medical Imaging Workshops at the Biotechnica in Hannover
BiomeTI held a workshop on Advanced Medical Imaging at the last day of Europe´s biggest fair for Biotechnology the Biotechnica (13/10/2011) focusing on the topics: “Personalized Medicine through Image-guided therapy and theranostics” and “Biophotonics and nanoscale optical Imaging”.
BiomeTI organized this event together with its partners the Theo Förster Institute, the Biotechnica and Photonic Net.
National and international speakers reported about current innovations in the Medical Imaging field. Nearly 50 participants listened to the interesting talks, presentations and discussions.
Prof. Dr. Ingrid Hilger from the university hospital in Jena started by introducing an innovative tumour treatment method developed from an Imaging approach. Magnetic particles, originally used for imaging, are brought into cancerous tissue; a magnetic field is applied leading to local heating of the tissue and therewith destruction of the tumour.
The second speaker was the 2006 Bundesinnovation prize awardee Prof. Dr. Frank Duffner, who is working as a neurosurgeon at the Winghofer Medicum clinic and the University of Tuebingen. Prof. Duffner introduced his invention a robot for neurosurgery. The neurocomrade supports the surgeon while operating, leading to more comfort for the surgeon and more precise operations with better outcome for the patient.
The most spectacular part of the event was surely the presentation of Prof. Dr. Axel Haverich from the Hannover Medical School. Prof. Haverich introduced 3D imaging pre-, intra- and postoperatively in cardiovascular surgery. He showed the developments achieved within the past years from plastic heart models for demonstration and operation planning, over an individual reconstruction of a patient’s heart as a model for the operation planning to 3D images on screen. Prof. Haverich went one step further into the visualization of the future by showing a hologram of the heart. This fascinating visualization technology opens a new chapter for imaging before, while and after operations as well as for teaching and explanation procedures with patients.
Dr. Amir Rosenthal from the Institute for Biological and Medical Imaging of the Helmholtz Centre and the Technical University Munich reported, on behalf of Dr. Razansky, about the innovations in the field of optoacoustic molecular imaging. This preclinical research shows a lot of potential for future diagnostic approaches for the human.
Dr. Volker Westphal from the Max Plank Institute for Biophysical Chemistry in Goettingen presented the state-of-the-art in Super-High-Resolution Imaging, explaining the different technologies and possibilities, showing the major difference of images obtained with super resolution microscopes compared to other, e.g. confocal, microscopes.
Prof. Dr. Andreas Hielscher from the Columbia University in New York talked about Optical Tomographic Imaging in clinical approaches. He demonstrated innovative attempts for arthritis diagnostics through analysis of the hand only, up to the monitoring of cancer treatment. He presented a promising approach for breast cancer imaging, providing a much higher comfort for the patient than mammography.
These very interesting lectures were completed by 2 discussions with experts. The first round addressed the state-of-the-art of Advanced Medical Imaging. Prof. Dr. Fabian Kiessling from the University hospital in Aachen discussed with the two speakers, Prof. Hilger and Prof. Hielscher, about the current situation, challenges and future perspectives.
In the second discussion round scientific experts and company representatives talked about Super High Resolution microscopy. Prof. Dr. Dietmar Manstein from the Hannover Medical School, Dr. Westphal, Abberior, Leica and Nikon representatives discussed about different approaches to generate high resolution images, their advantages and disadvantages and perspectives for the future.
BiomeTI wants to thank all speakers and experts and the partners of the event: Theo Förster Institute, Biotechnica, Photonic Net and all participants.
