The theme for the 2020 meeting was Bridging Biology and Medicine with Molecular Imaging.
Each year, the WMIC bridges a range of disciplines including biology, chemistry, physics and engineering. This year the WMIC focused on bridging the core disciplines of Molecular Imaging and Biology. The outcome was a cutting-edge program that merged early discovery with clinical translation.
Over 400 poster presentations were given by scientists worldwide to showcase their latest science and research. This year during the WMIC Virtual Congress, poster presenters had the option to offer you a video overview with PowerPoint presentations, which enhanced the traditional poster presentation.
Networking and building new relationships were key components of the meeting to build networks, drive collaboration, stay up-to-date, and share best practices by interacting with interest groups, meet presenters, chat with poster presenters, meet fellows, and much more.
Julie Sutcliffe, PhD, President of WMIS gave the opening address.
| WMIC Virtual 2020 Program and Recordings |
 The program included presentations from around the world showcasing how their programs pushed the boundaries of science to advance new discoveries in healthcare, with Plenary Sessions, Spotlight Sessions, Workshops and over 400 poster presentations given by scientists worldwide to showcase their latest science and research.
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| Gold Medal Award |
 The WMIC Virtual 2020 Gold Medal Award was presented to Thomas J. Meade, PhD, at Northwestern University, for his renowned dedication to the molecular imaging community and revolutionary contributions to the field. Meade was chosen for his sustained research in the areas of magnetic resonance and optical molecular imaging, visionary breakthroughs for deep tissue imaging, and advances in quantitative and biologically specific interrogation of living systems.
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| Roger Tsien Award for Excellence in Chemical Biology |
 The World Molecular Imaging Society named Dr. Thomas Reiner, PhD, Memorial Sloan Kettering, as the recipient of the 2020 Roger Tsien Award for Excellence in Chemical Biology for making significant contributions to the field of molecular imaging in the area of chemical biology. This includes the creation and/or use of novel chemistries to probe biological systems using noninvasive imaging approaches.
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| Young Investigator Award Winner |
 Pictured above (L to R): Bao Ying Chen, PhD Student; Wei Mu, PhD; Xiao He, MD; Sabina Marciano, PhD StudentThe Young Investigator of the Year Award recognizes a young, next-generation scientist making giant breakthroughs in the field of molecular imaging. This year’s awardee is Sabina Marciano, PhD Student, at Werner Siemens Imaging Center, for her work titled “Imaging CRISPR/Cas9 Gene Editing in the Adult Rat Brain”. WMIC Young Investigator of the Year Winner Sabina Marciano, PhD Student, Werner Siemens Imaging Center “Imaging CRISPR/Cas9 Gene Editing in the Adult Rat Brain” WMIC Young Investigator of the Year Runner Up Xiao He, MD, Zhejiang University “Human cortical progenitors integrate into the stroke-injured cortex and prevent cortical seizures after stroke” WMIC Young Investigator of the Year Finalists Wei Mu, PhD, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center “Non-invasive treatment decision support for non-small cell lung cancer with deep learning radiomics”Bao Ying Chen, PhD Student, University of California, Los Angeles “18F-FAC PET can image immune activation and reveals potential functional role of deoxyribonucleoside salvage pathway in EAE mouse model of MS” |