Recently in July, the 27th International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine was held in Paris, France. A great number of experts and scholars in related field came to discuss updated progresses and advanced information of MRI research. Led by Prof. Gong Qiyong, vice president of West China Hospital, a group of over 20 people in HMRRC (Huaxi Magnetic Resonance Research Center) participated in the event.

Prof. Gong Qiyong was officially elected as the president-designate of psychiatric MR group, ISMRM (International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine) and the president of OCSMRM (Overseas Chinese Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine). For the first time, the OCSMRM presidency was achieved by a scholar from mainland China.

The team led by Prof. Gong was invited to moderate an 8-person meeting at the conference, providing 3 weekend-educational courses and 19 meeting abstracts being received as oral or poster presentations. By means of educational lectures and conference exchanges, Researcher Xiaoqi Huang (Deputy Director of the HMRRC), Prof. Lui Suand Prof. John Sweeney (visiting Prof.) gave a systematic introduction to attendees about current advances they have made in the field of psychiatric imaging, which led to strong attention and heated discussion. Meanwhile, worldwide relevant researchers and scholars witnessed the strength of West China Hospital on psychiatric imaging research.

During the meeting, Doctor Li Fei from HMRRC was elected as Junior Fellow of ISMRM in 2018. This honor was under strict selection of ISMRM academic committee, aimed at honoring outstanding young scholars who made great contribution to medical MRI studies. After Prof. Gong Qiyong became the first Senior Fellow from mainland China in 2016, the appointment for Doctor Li Fei reflected the academic impact of WCH’s MRI team in the international medical MRI area.

Note: ISMRM (International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine) is the most authoritative, massive and influential specialized society in the area of MRI radiological imaging in the world. ISMRM includes over 8000 members from 61 different countries majoring in various specialties related to MRI, such as clinical medicine, physics, engineering, biochemistry and bioengineering, etc. The important purpose of this society is to promote the study and application of newly developed MRI technologies on clinical diseases.