2026 7T TANA Meeting - 7/27/26 - Biomedical Research Imaging Center

The Biomedical Research Imaging Center (BRIC) and the Department of Radiology at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill are pleased to host the upcoming meeting of the 7T Translational Alliance in North America (7T TANA). The meeting will take place on July 27, 2026, at UNC–Chapel Hill.

This year’s meeting is centered on the translation of ultra–high-field MRI innovations into broadly applicable clinical solutions. Leveraging UNC’s strong integration of clinical practice and advanced imaging research, the program will highlight rigorous, translationally focused efforts that bridge technical development and real-world clinical impact.

Through invited lectures, proffered abstract presentations, and poster sessions, participants will explore the full pathway from methodological innovation to clinical utility, with emphasis on how emerging acquisition strategies, reconstruction frameworks, and quantitative imaging approaches are being deployed to address pressing clinical and biological questions.

A defining theme of the meeting is harmonizing the forefront of methodological development with the practical constraints of clinical translation. In addition to examining state-of-the-art techniques currently shaping ultra–high-field imaging, the program will look ahead to next-generation engineering and system-level advances, with the goal of identifying scalable solutions that overcome technical barriers and ultimately improve patient care.

Keynote Speakers

Kâmil Uğurbil, PhD
University of Minnesota

Leading the Field: The Transformative Power of UHF MRI

Dr. Kâmil Uğurbil is the McKnight Presidential Endowed Chair Professor of Radiology, Neurosciences, and Medicine and Director of the Center for Magnetic Resonance Research (CMRR) at the University of Minnesota Medical School. An IEEE member and an elected member of both the U.S. National Academy of Medicine and the National Academy of Sciences, Dr. Uğurbil is a pioneer of ultra–high-field (UHF) MRI and will present his groundbreaking work on the development and impact of advanced UHF MRI technologies.

Stephen Jones, MD, PhD
Cleveland Clinic

From Ultrahigh Field to Clinical Insight: Advancing Neuroimaging with 7T MRI

Dr. Stephen Jones, MD, PhD, is Vice Chair of Research and Academic Affairs in the Department of Diagnostic Radiology at the Cleveland Clinic. He received his MD from Tufts University and completed a neuroradiology fellowship training at Massachusetts General Hospital, following a PhD in Applied and Engineering Physics from Cornell University. Dr. Jones’ research integrates advanced MRI methodology with clinical neuroscience, with interests including epilepsy, functional MRI, traumatic brain injury, and brain connectivity. He is a widely published investigator and recipient of multiple honors in ultra–high-field MRI.

Itinerary

Morning Program

7:30–8:00 AM	Registration, Continental Breakfast & Networking
8:00–8:10 AM	Welcome — Blossom Damania, PhD — UNC School of Medicine
8:10–8:30 AM	Keynote — Kâmil Uğurbil, PhD — University of Minnesota Leading the Field: The Transformative Power of UHF MRI
8:30–8:50 AM	Keynote — Stephen Jones, MD, PhD — Cleveland Clinic From Ultrahigh Field to Clinical Insight: Advancing Neuroimaging with 7T MRI
8:50–9:50 AM	Session I — Clinical Translation of 7T MRI: From Implementation to Patient Care Mai-Lan Ho, MD — University of Missouri Clinical 7T: Practical Tips for Implementation and Accreditation Girish Gandikota, MD — University of North Carolina From 3T Limitations to 7T Opportunities in Musculoskeletal MRI Erik Middlebrooks, MD — Mayo Clinic From Boutique to Bedside: The Next Era of 7T Brain MRI Doksu Moon, PhD — Cleveland Clinic 7T QSM and Chi-Separation Maps for VIM Targeting in HiFU and 7T Distal Dural Ring Evaluation
9:50–10:05 AM	Coffee Break
10:05–11:05 AM	Session II — Technologies for the Next Generation of Clinical 7T MRI Bruce M. Damon, PhD — Carle Health and University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Translating Ultrahigh-Field MRI Research into Clinical Practice: Our Approach at CI AIC Ravi Menon, PhD — Western University SNR and tSNR gains for high-density RF coil arrays in the thermal and physiological noise limits Danny Wang, PhD — University of Southern California Applications of 7T ASL Perfusion MRI
11:05–11:20 AM	Break
11:20–11:50 AM	Session II continued Ali Ozen, PhD — University of Freiburg Light Coils: Fully Optical Data and Power Transmission in MRI Greg Metzger, PhD — University of Minnesota 7T Abdominal Imaging — Opportunities and Translation Pathways Bei Zhang, PhD — UT Southwestern Medical Center Multi-site RF coil development for imaging the human cerebellum integrated into the CNS at 7T
11:50 AM–12:45 PM	Networking Lunch

Afternoon & Evening Program

12:45–1:15 PM	Strategic White Paper Panel — Barbara K. Marebwa, PhD — Michael J. Fox Foundation Duan Xu, PhD — University of California, San Francisco Stephen G. Lisberger, PhD — Duke University and Raynor Cerebellum Project What should the 2026 7T TANA White Paper accomplish?
1:15–2:00 PM	Session III — Clinical Applications & Functional Neuroimaging Vibhor Krishna, MD — University of North Carolina Advancing Functional Neurosurgery with MRI-Guided Focused Ultrasound Noam Harel, PhD — University of Minnesota 7T MRI for DBS Planning: Imaging Innovations with Immediate Clinical Relevance Can Ozutemiz, MD — University of Minnesota Cerebral Amyloid Angiopathy and ARIA Scoring at 7T MRI
2:00–2:15 PM	Coffee Break
2:15–2:45 PM	Session III continued Ian Shih, PhD — University of North Carolina SORDINO for Silent, Sensitive, Specific, and Artifact-Resisting fMRI in awake behaving mice Valerie Klein, PhD — Harvard Medical School Modeling and Mitigating Stimulation Constraints in MRI: Unlocking Speed, Quality, and Safe Translation
2:45–3:30 PM	Session IV — Biomarkers & Quantitative Imaging Ravinder Reddy, PhD — University of Pennsylvania 7T CEST From Method to Translation Yan Li, PhD — University of California, San Francisco From 3T to 7T: Clinical Opportunities for Molecular Imaging with UHF MRSI Kawin Setsompop, PhD — Stanford University Advancing MRF for Next-Generation 7T: From Technical Breakthrough to Deployable Quantitative Imaging
3:30–3:40 PM	Break
3:40–4:40 PM	Session V / Power Pitch See Power Pitches panel
4:40–5:40 PM	Session VI / Industry Innovation Forum Siemens Healthineers GE HealthCare Bruker RAPID Biomedical NVision Imaging Technologies Skope MRI Technologies
5:40–6:15 PM	BRIC Facility Tour Human imaging, HIFU/LIFU, small animal imaging, molecular imaging, neuroimaging, translation, and data science infrastructure
6:30 PM	Dinner & Networking

Power Pitches

Paul S. Jacobs, PhD — University of Pennsylvania
Increased GluCEST Contrast in Paramagnetic Rim Lesions in Multiple Sclerosis Patients at 7T

Pallab K. Bhattacharyya, PhD — Cleveland Clinic
Very Preliminary Findings of 2HG MRS in Tumor Using Long-TE sLASER at 7T — A Follow-up to Diagnostic Consensus of GlioMaRSNET

Doug Kelley, PhD — Stanford University
Siemens Impulse Head Gradient Coil performance in a 7T System

Madison Chiu, PhD — Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
Small Cerebral Veins and Microbleeds in Alzheimer’s Disease with 7T QSM

Xinqiang Yan, PhD — Vanderbilt University Medical Center
Over-coupled wireless resonators

Mualla Yazici, PhD — Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
Sodium MRI as a Biomarker of Metabolic Dysfunction in Alzheimer’s Disease

Aditya Jhajharia, PhD — University of California, San Francisco
Quantitative Skin Sodium Assessment with 23Na MRI at 7T

Eva Martinez Luque, PhD — Georgia Institute of Technology & Emory University
fMRS During an Overt Verbal Fluency Task at 7T

Sithmi Jayasundara, PhD — Carle Illinois College of Medicine
7T MRA for Cerebral Aneurysm Versus Infundibulum

Abdul Wahed Kajabi, PhD — University of Minnesota
Single-Channel and Eight-Channel Transmit Knee Coils for 7T MRI

Venue

Kirkland Auditorium

Koury Oral Health Sciences Building

UNC Adams School of Dentistry

385 S. Columbia Street

UNC Chapel Hill

Parking

Visitor parking is available at the S11 Parking Deck (South Campus), located within walking distance of the Bioinformatics Building. Additional visitor parking is available in nearby UNC visitor lots and decks; hourly rates may apply. Attendees are encouraged to allow extra time for parking.

Campus Directions

From downtown Chapel Hill or Carrboro, follow signage for UNC–Chapel Hill South Campus. The Bioinformatics Building is located adjacent to the UNC Medical Center and BRIC facilities. Campus maps and wayfinding signage will be available on site.

Hotel Accommodations

Hampton Inn & Suites Chapel Hill–Carrboro/Downtown
370 E Main Street, Carrboro, NC

A discounted group rate of $169 per night includes complimentary breakfast and free Wi-Fi.
To reserve, call 919-969-6988 and mention the group code “90L” or “7T Translational Alliance in North America.”

Reservations must be made by June 11, 2026 to receive the group rate.

Online Reservations

Available Rooms – Hampton Inn & Suites Chapel Hill–Carrboro/Downtown

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Prospective participants are invited to submit abstracts for oral and poster presentations at the 7T TANA 2026 workshop. Abstracts should be submitted by email to unc7TTANA2026@gmail.com.

Submission Deadline & Stipend Applications

May 1, 2026 at 11:59 PM (EST)

Abstract Format Requirements

- Maximum length: one page (21.59 × 27.94 cm / 8.5″ × 11″), including figures, tables, graphs, and references
- Minimum font size: 8 pt
- Single-column layout

Suggested Abstract Structure

Title
Authors
Target Audience: Who will benefit from this information?
Purpose: Why was this study performed?
Methods: How was the problem studied?
Results: Principal findings and statistical analysis
Discussion: Interpretation of the results
Conclusion: Relevance to clinical practice or future research
References: Optional

7T TANA Registration

Registration for the 2026 7T TANA event

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Dr. Uzay Emir
uzay_emir@med.unc.edu
(984) 974-3226

2026 7T TANA Meeting – 7/27/26