UCLA Journal of Radiation Oncology APRIL 2023 - Flipbook - Page 48
UCLA RADIATION ONCOLOGY JOURNAL
HIGHLIGHTS OF THE 9TH
MR IN RT SYMPOSIUM
UCLA is proud to have hosted the 9th MR in RT Symposium at the UCLA Luskin Conference
Center from February 6-8, 2023. As the premier international meeting dedicated to the use of
MRI in radiation therapy, it attracted renowned researchers, medical physicists, and clinicians
from around the world. With 220 attendees from 70 institutions across 11 countries and 83
scientific abstracts submitted from 48 institutions across 9 countries, the symposium was a
resounding success.
The symposium featured 15 multidisciplinary scientific sessions on a variety of topics. These
included invited lectures and proffered abstract presentations. The clinical development
session provided updates on the most recently completed clinical trials, including Mirage and
SMART. The debate sessions on the future of MR in RT applications and the role of functional
MRI sparked interesting discussions among the panelists and attendees, inspiring ideas
on how to move the field forward. The Young Investigator Award session showcased highly
competitive research presentations from eight Young Investigator finalists. Additionally, the
conference included a poster review session with 30 poster presentations in the evening of the
second day.
The symposium also provided a great opportunity for clinicians, physicists, and researchers
to connect with industry. The event attracted strong sponsorship and participation from
vendors in the MR in RT field. There were 19 exhibitors who showcased their products and
services, and 8 of them provided updates on their recent product development or shared user
experience during the Industry Development Update Session.
In conjunction with the symposium, a half-day clinical training course was provided on
the last day. The course focused on practical clinical training on MRI-guided adaptive
radiotherapy (MRgRT). Led by clinical experts from UCLA and Miami Cancer Institute,
the course reviewed the available clinical evidence and promising indications of adaptive
radiotherapy and discussed the clinical implementation of the MRgRT process and staff
requirements, training, and safety required to build the clinical adaptive program. The course
had 70 attendees consisting of physicians, medical physicists, clinical trainees and industrial
developers.
The MR in RT Symposium and MRgRT Clinical Training Course were well-received and highly
praised by the attendees. They felt inspired and enriched by the knowledge and discussions
shared during the event. The attendees also enjoyed the facilities and amenities provided, as
well as great opportunities to connect with peers in the field. UCLA is proud of its long history
of technological innovation in MR-guided radiotherapy. We are delighted to have successfully
hosted this premier international conference, which connected leaders in the development
and implementation of the use of MRI for radiotherapy applications and inspired ideas and
momentum for future development. ☐
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