The main objective of this application is to provide the means for graduate students, post-doctoral fellows and residents to attend the 2005 annual Academy of Molecular Imaging Conference. The money thus acquired will provide travel funds for 45 graduate and medical students, and residents at $1,000 each. This will also fund the Travel Awards for the winners of each of the Top Basic Science Abstract and the Top Clinical Science Abstract at $2,000 per person. It is of utmost importance for these students to attend the AMI conference if they are to pursue a career in any of the aspects of imaging. For the Conference convenes all disciplines of science involved in imaging - oncology, neurology, physics, computer sciences, cardiology, molecular biology, genetics, biochemistry, nuclear medicine, radiology and veterinary medicine, to name some of them. The Conference features parallel track sessions pertaining to the individual Councils of the AMI: Institute of Clinical PET (ICP) stresses the importance of technological advances to explore the use of PET as a molecular imaging modality to provide a biological basis and description of disease in patients; Institute of Molecular Imaging (IMI) emphasizes the relevance of small animal imaging in translational research; Society for Non-Invasive Imaging in Drug Development highlights the value of molecular imaging in drug discovery; Institute for Molecular Technologies (IMT) sponsors and promotes educational efforts to medical and science professionals, patients and the public. The distinguished speakers include, Dr. Michael Phelps, Dr. Kurt Zinn, Dr. Farrokh Dehdasti, Nancy Swanston, Dr. Marcelo Di Carli, Kathryn Hunter, and David Townsend to name a few. The topics of their talks will accentuate the latest in molecular imaging techniques and technologies that will be of benefit to young, basic and clinical researchers and physicians. The Conference is to be held between March 19th and March 23rd 2005, at the Gaylord Palms Resort Hotel and Convention Center in Orlando, Florida.
