Open Source Initiative for Perfusion Imaging
Member-Initiated Symposium

ORGANIZERS: Steven Sourbron, Laura Bell

Monday, 13 May 2019

Session Number: MIS-04

Overview
This Symposium was proposed by the Perfusion study group.

In October 2018, the ISMRM perfusion study group launched the Perfusion Open-Source Initiative, with an overall aim to improve the efficiency and reproducibility of research in perfusion MRI. Over the course of the next 3 years, the Perfusion Open-Source Initiative will build an open-source, transparent, well-documented, version-controlled
library of core functionality – providing a pathway to reproducible perfusion biomarkers in basic science, drug development, and clinical practice.

The aim of this symposium is to publicize this initiative to the wider ISMRM membership, collect their ideas and suggestions on future directions, and inspire other members to contribute. We are particularly keen to encourage junior members if the ISMRM to participate and share their ideas and code.

Short talks will present progress to date and future plans of the initiative itself but also introduce the general problems of open-source development and sustainability and related ISMRM initiatives (ISMRM hub). We will review existing software for perfusion and digital reference objects that can be integrated in this open source platform, as well as recent developments in standardizing the data format of quantitative mapping. There will be ample time for discussion after each talk and a sign-me-up session with an opportunity to meet with current contributors.

Target Audience
ISMRM members with an interest in contributing to and benefiting from open-source software development for increased reproducibility of perfusion MRI.

Educational Objectives
As a result of attending this course, participants should be able to:
- Explain the Perfusion Open-Source Initiative to other ISMRM members;
- Identify the challenges of open-source development and sustainability, and describe previous ISMRM led open source initiatives;
- List and select existing perfusion freeware and digital reference objects; and
- Articulate the basis of DICOM parametric mapping and encoding of perfusion maps.