Edward Jackson plenary talk: The Evolution of Medical Imaging from Qualitative to Quantitative -- Opportunities, Challenges, and Approaches

In this plenary session, Edward Jackson of the University of Wisconsin Madison speaks on the evolution of medical imaging, from qualitative to quantitative. Jackson discussed the evolution of quantitative imaging biomarkers and the need for standardization of data acquisition, analysis, display techniques, and reporting structures.

The nature of the field is truly multidisciplinary, involving medical physics, radiology, statistics, and informatics, as well as close collaborations with system developers. Ultimately this will lead to noninvasive quantitative measurements that can be used effectively in clinical and translational research further the efficacy and goals of precision medicine.

Jackson discusses the opportunities and challenges and gives an overview of efforts underway to address the task of leveraging data from many different imaging techniques in order to provide the best outcome for the patient. He argues that precision medicine requires a transformation of medical imaging.

Edward Jackson is professor and chair of the Department of Medical Physics and professor of radiology and human oncology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Medicine and Public Health. He is the current chair of the RSNA Quantitative Imaging Biomarkers Alliance (QIBA) and is past chair of the ISMRM Ad Hoc Committee on Standards for Quantitative MR. He is a member of the AAPM Science Council and Education Council, and is chair-elect of the Commission on Accreditation of Medical Physics Education Programs (CAMPEP).