A Retrospection

The fourth international summer school of the European networks “DiMI” and “EMIL – European Molecular Imaging Laboratories” and the “European Society for Molecular Imaging – ESMI” took place September 1-4, 2008 in Münster, Germany.

This summer school focused on current and future cardiovascular applications of molecular imaging. It was co-organized by the DiMI partners Michael Schäfers, Münster and Michael Horn, Gothenburg.

30 registered students and postdocs with background in medicine, biology, medical physics and chemistry as well as 17 speakers from many different European countries came together to disseminate and exchange their know-how.Main topics were the basic physiology of the cardiovascular system and the methodological principles of the major non-invasive cardiovascular imaging techniques - PET, MRI, CT, ultrasound - as well as the pathophysiology of myocardial diseases and applications of molecular imaging in vascular diseases.

Each day was concluded by an intensive hands-on training in the various labs of the University of Münster and there was plenty of time “to meet the experts”.

Attendees as well as speakers enjoyed the guided tour through the old town of Münster and the dinner in the Picasso museum.They agreed on the fact that future courses focused on cardiovascular molecular imaging are needed to further promote this clinically relevant field in medicine.