Frontiers in Magnetic Resonance Imaging Biomarkers of Renal Disease: Where Imaging Sciences, Big Data, Physiology & Medicine Meet
Member-Initiated Symposium

ORGANIZERS: Thoralf Niendorf, Octavia Bane

Monday, 13 May 2019

Session Number: MIS-02

Overview
Renal diseases pose a significant and escalating socio-economic burden on healthcare systems. The development of better diagnostics and prognostics is well-recognized as a key strategy to resolve these challenges. Central to these developments are MRI biomarkers due to their potential for monitoring of early parenchymal changes, renal disease progression or treatment effects. The remarkable surge in renal MRI involves major cross-domain initiatives including a European research network (PARENCHIMA), large clinical studies (BEAt-DKD), the UK Renal Imaging Network (UKRIN) and the launch of a new US initiative (NIDDK).

The MIS provides an overview of the state-of-the-art and the clinical relevance of MRI biomarkers of renal diseases. Presentations
are devoted to linking renal (patho)physiology with imaging findings, to promoting emerging technologies and its validation, to discussing future directions and health economic aspects of renal MRI biomarkers. In doing so, we hope to convince the communities to throw their weight into the task of solving technical problems, connecting (patho)physiology with (bio)physics and big data analytics, and conceiving new clinical applications. As they are advanced, the MIS will push the boundaries of MRI science, nephrology, patho(physiology), computational sciences and related fields for enhanced patient outcome and renoprotection. This MIS will convey the seeds of this mission and inspire the ISMRM community to become pioneers of renal MRI.

Target Audience
This MIS attracts young scientists and new entrants into the field. It targets basic scientists, engineers, translational researchers and clinicians.

Educational Objectives
As a result of attending this course, participants should be able to:
- Describe the state of the art and explain the clinical relevance of MRI biomarkers of renal diseases and articulate the needs for biological validation of renal MR markers to clarify the link to biology and physiology;
- Explain technical recommendations for renal MR to ensure accuracy & precision, quality assurance and discuss the added value of renal MR in drug development or patient management;
- Evaluate the scalability, automation, cost-efficiency, and health economy modelling of renal MRI and outline the role of computational models, machine learning and predictive analysis for enhanced MR diagnostics of renal diseases; and
- Recognize the opportunities for discovery, challenges and furture directions of renal MRI.