CUBIC shines at Historic ISMRM/ISMRT Annual Meeting in Cape Town

In May this year, the International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine (ISMRM) and the International Society for MR Radiographers and Technologists (ISMRT) held their Annual Meeting at the Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC). The theme of the meeting was “Ubuntu” – I am because we are. This was a historic occasion, marking the first time that the world's largest MRI conference was hosted on African soil. It brought together thousands of MRI researchers, clinicians, radiographers, physicists, engineers and industry partners from around the world to share the latest advances in magnetic resonance imaging. CUBIC staff played a pivotal role in both the planning and delivery of the scientific programme. This meeting was also unique in the sense that it highlighted CUBIC’s leadership in MRI research, education and innovation.

Professor Ernesta Meintjes and Petronella (Petty) Samuels served on the Annual Meeting Program Committees for ISMRM and ISMRT, respectively. Working alongside international colleagues for many months, they helped curate a world-class scientific programme that reflected the breadth and diversity of MRI research worldwide.

Before the Annual Meeting, Ernesta Meintjes, Petty Samuels, and Frances Robertson organised the ISMRM African Chapter Symposium at the UCT Neuroscience Institute. The symposium brought together radiographers, physicists, clinicians and researchers from across Africa and beyond to showcase advances in MRI research and clinical practice on the continent. The event provided an important platform for education, collaboration, networking, and knowledge exchange among African scientists, reinforcing the African Chapter's mission to strengthen MRI capacity and foster research excellence across the continent.

Professor Ernesta Meintjes and Professor Ntobeko Ntusi represented South Africa during the ISMRT Opening Forum, which celebrated African-led innovation in MRI research and clinical practice. Their presentations highlighted the pioneering work being undertaken at the University of Cape Town. They showcased their internationally recognised leadership in advancing brain and cardiovascular MRI research that addresses diseases of particular relevance to Africa.

Building the Future with Low-Field MRI

Stephen Jermy presented in the session "Low-Field MRI Implementation," highlighting the exciting potential of low-cost MRI technology to improve access to imaging in resource-limited settings. Delegates also had the opportunity to see the scanner in action through a live demonstration in the following session. Stephen was joined by Jasper Jooste, from UCT SoLow, and Teresa Guallart-Naval, from the Polytechnic University of Valencia, where they gave an exciting rundown of how the Low-Field MRI scanner operates; from collecting the first echo to running a 3D acquisition of the lower arm.

Showcasing CUBIC Research

CUBIC researchers made important contributions to the scientific programme through invited lectures and award-winning research presentations.

Frances Robertson delivered an invited presentation in the session "MR Spectroscopy in Clinical Practice: Where We Are and What Is Missing," where she presented her work on the application of magnetic resonance spectroscopy in HIV research, highlighting both the current clinical value of the technique and future opportunities for its application.

Petty Samuels presented her award-winning abstract, "Exploring the Prevalence of Myocardial Steatosis in Women with HIV on ART." This multicentre study, for which Professor Ntobeko Ntusi serves as Co-Principal Investigator, investigates intramyocardial triglyceride content in women living with HIV receiving antiretroviral therapy. Using cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) and proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (¹H-cMRS), the preliminary findings demonstrate evidence of subclinical myocardial injury and myocardial steatosis despite preserved cardiac function. These findings highlight the value of advanced MRI techniques for the early detection of myocardial abnormalities and underscore the need for larger studies in this important area of research.

In recognition of her service to the MRI community, Petty also received the ISMRM Outstanding Contribution to a Chapter or Division Award for her work with the ISMRM African Chapter in advancing MRI education, collaboration and capacity building across Africa.

Mariaan Jaftha presented a scientific poster based on her Master's research entitled "Inverse Association Between Corpus Callosum Thickness and Disability in Individuals with Multiple Sclerosis." Her work contributes to a growing body of research exploring MRI biomarkers of disease progression in multiple sclerosis.

Celebrating African MRI Excellence

Hosting the ISMRM/ISMRT Annual Meeting in Cape Town was far more than a conference. It was a celebration of the remarkable growth of MRI research, education and clinical practice across Africa. It provided an opportunity for African scientists, clinicians, radiographers and physicists to showcase their work on the world stage while fostering new collaborations with international colleagues.

The meeting also highlighted CUBIC's continued commitment to advancing MRI through innovative research, education, mentorship and international collaboration. From shaping the scientific programme and organising educational events to presenting pioneering research and receiving international recognition, CUBIC staff demonstrated the Centre's growing influence within the global MRI community.

As MRI continues to evolve, CUBIC remains committed to driving innovation, building research capacity and improving health outcomes through imaging research that addresses both African and global health challenges.