ICNC-8, the 8th international conference on Nuclear Cardiology is to be held in 2007 in Prague, Czech Republic, 29 april to 2 may 2007.
The Conference is the result from a close collaboration between the American Society of Nuclear Cardiology, the European Association of Nuclear Medicine and the ESC Working Group on Nuclear Cardiology.
The Co-Chairs of the Organising Committee are Jeroen Bax (NL) and Robert Hendel (USA) and the Co-Chairs of the Programme Committee are Juhani Knuuti (FI), Frank Bengel (USA), and Robert Gropler (USA).
In this interview for the ESC e-News, Jeroen Bax unravels the latest innovations in Nuclear Cardiology and anticipates the future in Nuclear Cardiology (NC) here as well as provides a preview on the content of ICNC-8. Read on:
|
|
"ICNC-8 in a nutshell? A combination of practical nuclear cardiology, basic science and new technology." |
ESC: What will be highlighted in ICNC-8?
JJB: ICNC-8 will follow the same successful formula that was applied to the program of ICNC-7, that is:
-
Practical nuclear cardiology combined with basic science and new technology;
-
Special read-with-the-expert sessions will allow the audience to share experience with NC experts;
-
The core curriculum will address the state-of-the art in NC and its use in the daily clinical practice;
-
New developments such as MSCT, PET-CT and molecular imaging will be highlighted in special sessions;
-
Also, there is a growing need to integrate the different imaging modalities (echocardiography, MRI, MSCT and NC) and the use of multi-modality imaging in clinical practice will be addressed.
ESC: Tell us what have been the main activities of the scientific and programme committees in the last year?
JJB: The ICNC program committee is, as we speak, actively working on the program for ICNC-8. The advisory board and organizational committee are working on logistical issues concerning the meeting in Prague.
One other activity, separate from ICNC is worth mentioning. Europe has the tendency to integrate NC more and the new European Council Nuclear on Cardiology (ECNC), composed of 10 members, an EANM and ESC joint initiative, is working actively on this trend.
ESC: Is there a strong need for an ICNC meeting? Is there a balance between US and European faculty and attendance?
JJB: We believe that there is a strong need for this meeting. The differences in the utilization of NC in the US, Europe and Asia is striking. The ICNC meeting permits integration of NC throughout the world; the international meeting is important in terms of communication, networking, learning about new technologies etc.
Global input and attendance
Globally the programme of ICNC-8 will composed of a half US and half European faculty. In addition, the input from Asia is become extremely important. The aim is to include top speakers from Asia on the faculty. The audience is also composed of 50% US and 50% European attendees, but the attendance of Asia, in particular Japan is growing rapidly and extremely important for the success of the meeting.
In particular, NC is performed at high standards in the Asian countries, both clinical and research wise.
ESC: What is unique about ICNC-8 in comparison to other meetings?
JJB: I would say that ICNC-8 will really provide an important and unique forum for international nuclear cardiologists. The meeting is crucial for maintaining personal communication and interaction between scientists and clinicians involved in nuclear cardiology. The meeting furthermore offers outstanding continuing medical education, opportunities to present and discuss research, and to establish and maintain a sharing system between the international scientific and clinical communities. The ICNC meeting should be continued for years to come!
-
Want to know more about the
8th International Conference of Nuclear Cardiology (ICNC-8)? The ICNC-8 website is under construction, however you may download a print version of the First Announcement
here (PDF 233 Kb)
-
Want to know more about the
latest innovations in Nuclear Cardiology and how Jeroen Bax anticipates the
future in Nuclear Cardiology? Then make sure you read the continuation to this interview
here...