Project Summary/Abstract The proposal requests support for early-career investigators to attend the 2024 Gordon Research Conference on Image Science (in its fifth offering). The unique feature of this conference compared with more conventional medical imaging venues is the bringing together of renowned speakers from disparate application areas, including biology, medicine, astronomy, remote sensing, and security and defense industries, in a forum that encourages each to describe their most significant challenges and most promising solutions, to foster cross- fertilization between these fields. All speakers are invited based on their field leadership and willingness to debate fundamental issues shared by everyone developing, evaluating, and applying imaging in medicine and biology. The GRC format in a small remote venue promotes innovative interdisciplinary thinking that leads to breakthroughs. An environment where leading senior scientists debate core issues is valuable to young investigators trying to build prosperous independent careers in medical imaging in industry and academia. All attendees are invited to present a poster describing their research in poster sessions, a key element of the Gordon Conference format. The June 9-14, 2024, GRC conference theme is “Advances in Imaging and Visualization at the Junction of Physics, Engineering, and Data Science.” which is focused on the appropriate acquisition and efficient uses of the massive volume of imaging information now collected in many fields, in particular biomedical optical imaging. Speakers give ~40-minute presentations in a single-track format with ~20 minutes of discussions following each presentation that experts lead in the field. Biomedical-relevant topics range from “Live High- speed Biomedical and Medical Imaging” to “Elastography in Biomedical and Medical Imaging” and “Eyes and Vision.” Still, we also bring insight from sessions on Astronomy, Quantum Imaging, and Consumer Displays.” At the center of each presentation is a discussion of the core challenges shared by image scientists and novel techniques for acquiring and displaying information to maximize decision performance. We aim to build Image Science as an independent field of study through detailed interdisciplinary discussions and by fostering the success of a new generation of image scientists. The Image Science GRC will be complemented by the student-run Image Science Gordon Research Seminar (GRS) on June 7-8, 2024.

Project Narrative Solutions to complex problems often emerge from discussions among experts in different fields of study being challenged by the same core problems. The 2024 GRC on Imaging Science promotes medical innovations to improve health by developing image science as a highly interdisciplinary field fostering collaborations among academic, industry scientists, and engineers. We strive to build a community of problem solvers by creating an environment for detailed discussions among senior investigators involving young investigators when building their careers.