The Board of the International Workshop on Pulmonary Functional Imaging is proud to announce that the 3rd Workshop in this series will be held in Heidelberg, October 5 - 7, 2006. The Workshop venue will be the Communication Center of the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ).

The first two International Workshops on Pulmonary Functional Imaging in Philadelphia (USA) 2002 and in Kobe (Japan) 2004 have gained an increasing amount of attention, because pulmonary functional imaging is driven by the unmet clinical needs for improved imaging diagnostics in different lung diseases, such as tumors, airway, interstitial and vascular disease.

The 3rd International Workshop on Pulmonary Functional Imaging in Heidelberg with an expected attendance of 150 participants will serve this increasing need by bringing together a multidisciplinary group of researchers and clinicians from pulmonary medicine, thoracic surgery, radiology, nuclear medicine, anesthesiology, pharmacology, computer science and physics. The Workshop is endorsed by the International Society of Magnetic Resonance in Medicine (ISMRM).

The scientific program will be an exciting mix of invited state-of-the-art lectures given by radiological and non-radiological experts as well as proffered papers and poster presentations. The topics will be

• airways

• emphysema

• bronchoscopy and ultrasound

• exercise testing and biomechanics

• protective ventilation

• tumor angiogenesis

• acute pulmonary embolism

• pulmonary hypertension

Thus, an interesting and stimulating meeting covering the latest advances in research and clinical application of Pulmonary Functional Imaging is guaranteed. Additionally, two Lunch Symposia dealing with major highlights in Pulmonary Functional Imaging will be offered.

The Workshop will be an excellent opportunity for the industry to meet scientists and clinicians working on the forefront of image-based approaches to lung function. For the industry enough space will be available in front of the auditorium and close to the poster area.
Publication of the scientific abstracts is planned. Publication of the proceedings of the Workshops is under discussion.

We are pleased to welcome you in Heidelberg also on behalf of the University of Heidelberg, which is the oldest university in Germany and one of the oldest in Europe. Since more than 600 years it is a center of international scientific and academic endeavor. Besides the German Cancer Research Center, Heidelberg is also the home of the German Academy of Sciences, the Center of Jewish Studies, the European Molecular Biology Laboratories and five facilities of the Max Planck Society. After all, an international exchange of ideas and experiences is daily common practice.

The Social Program will include: Get-together Party, visits to the Castles of Heidelberg and Schwetzingen and other activities.