NYMC Launches Illuminating Discovery Symposium Series on Biomedical Imaging
The annual event underscores the potential for innovative projects and strategic partnerships in bioimaging.
New York Medical College (NYMC) was filled with scientific curiosity and collaboration as the inaugural Illuminating Discovery Symposium brought together leading minds in biomedical imaging on December 9. Researchers, students, postdocs, professors, and professionals from NYMC and Touro University (TU), Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, and beyond gathered for a day of groundbreaking presentations and discussions. The event was organized by Jonathan Fisher, Ph.D., associate professor of physiology, and Salomon Amar, D.D.S., Ph.D., vice president for research and professor of pharmacology and of pathology, microbiology and immunology, and senior vice president for research affairs at Touro University, with co-chairs Christopher S. Leonard, Ph.D., professor and interim chair of the Department of Physiology, and Julie S. Di Martino, Ph.D., assistant professor of cell biology and anatomy.
The annual event is dedicated to advancing the field of biomedical imaging and providing a unique platform for researchers, clinicians, and industry leaders to explore cutting-edge advancements in preclinical and clinical imaging, foster interdisciplinary collaboration, and highlight imaging facilities and expertise within the Touro University (TU) community. The inaugural symposium celebrated diverse participation, high-quality presentations, and emerging collaborations. By identifying imaging-driven research excellence and resident expertise within the TU portfolio, the event underscored the potential for innovative projects and strategic partnerships in bioimaging. The symposium aims to grow into a cornerstone event for the biomedical imaging community, continuing to inspire innovation, collaboration, and excellence in this rapidly evolving field.
Highlights of the 2024 program included a keynote address by Sarah Eskreis-Winkler, M.D., Ph.D., a radiologist at the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, with her inspiring talk, “Breast Imaging and the Artificial Intelligence Revolution in Medical Diagnostics,” that delved into AI's transformative role in improving the diagnosis and management of breast cancer. Dr. Eskreis-Winkler, a diagnostic radiologist who specializes in breast imaging, is an assistant attending radiologist and head of artificial intelligence research in the Department of Radiology/ Breast Service at the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York City. Dr. Eskreis-Winkler’s research focuses on developing artificial intelligence tools to improve the diagnosis and management of breast cancer patients.
Other presentation topics of the day included preclinical optical imaging, clinical neuroimaging, dental imaging and high-resolution CT, and advances in functional anatomical clinical imaging.
The full list of speakers is below, and videos of the speakers are available on the Illuminating Discovery Symposium playlist on YouTube.
Speakers:
Keynote: Sarah Eskreis-Winkler, M.D., Ph.D.,
“Breast Imaging and the Artificial Intelligence Revolution in Medical Diagnostics”
Abdelfattah El Ouaamari, Ph.D.
“Vago-Islet Crosstalk in Insulin Resistance”
Sai Kiran Sharma, Ph.D.
“Cryo-Fluorescence Tomography Imaging of Whole-Body Transgene Expression to Treat Genetic Muscle Diseases”
William Ross, Ph.D.
“High Resolution Imaging of Na+ and Ca2+ Changes in Dendritic Spines”
Jonathan A. N. Fisher, Ph.D.
“Microvascular Response to Low-Intensity Focused Ultrasound Revealed by Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography”
David Entenberg, Ph.D.
“Bringing Intravital Imaging Insights to the Clinic”
Denis Bragin, Ph.D.
“Multiphoton Microscopy in Translational Neuroscience”
Fawaz Al-Mufti, M.D.
“AI-Augmented Neuroimaging in Stroke”
Kent Kiehl, Ph.D.
“Neuroprediction and the Law: Past, Present, and Future”
Julia Stephen, Ph.D.
“Gaining Insights into Neurodevelopment by MEG”
Andrew R. Mayer, Ph.D.
“Imaging Post-Traumatic Axonal and Vascular Injuries in Children”
Edwin Gulko, M.D.
“Exploring Brain Activity with fMRI: Clinical Insights and Applications”
Salomon Amar, D.D.S., Ph.D.
“Micro-CT and Dental Imaging”
Robert Weber, D.D.S.
“Guided Dental Implant Surgery: Combining 3D Intra Oral Scanning and Cone Beam Technology”
Jean-Marc Schwarz, Ph.D.
“MRI and Spectroscopy for Fructose’s Impact on Liver, Pancreatic, and Visceral Fat”
Gregory D. N. Pearson, M.D., Ph.D.
“Functional Information from Coronary CT Angiography: The case for CT fractional flow reserve”
Marielia Gerena, M.D.
“Advances in Prostate Imaging”
Dana Mordue, Ph.D.
“How Could the NYMC Confocal Core Enhance Your Research?”
Nicholas Janiga, J.D.
“Incidental Findings in Research Involving Clinical Imaging: What Are a Researcher’s Obligations?”
