Purpose of CBIS
CBIS Mission
The mission of the Center for Biomedical Imaging at Stanford (CBIS) is to advance science through multidisciplinary biomedical imaging. The Center emphasizes applied biomedical imaging by fostering collaboration between researchers and sharing of imaging resources. In this way, CBIS facilitates the development of innovative imaging methods that enrich basic research and translational medicine from bench to bedside and from bedside to society.
CBIS Goals
As its primary goal, CBIS provides educational and networking opportunities for all groups on campus that use or have an interest in biomedical imaging applications. The educational and networking goals of CBIS include increasing knowledge in biomedical imaging; improving access to imaging resources; and facilitating translational research in accordance with the SOM Translating Discoveries plan. To advance the field of biomedical imaging, CBIS will build collaborative research programs; develop industry-academic partnerships; plan seminars and conferences; work with faculty to develop training opportunities; provide information resources; and participate in community efforts beyond the Stanford campus. To achieve the goals of education and networking, CBIS strongly encourages active participation from across the University, including, but not limited to, the Schools of Medicine, Engineering, and the Humanities & Sciences, as well as from the business sector and the community at large.
What is Biomedical Imaging?
Biomedical imaging is a scientific field composed of many disciplines including medicine, biology, physics, chemistry, engineering, applied mathematics, and bioinformatics. Within this multidisciplinary field, a wide variety of professionals are working to enhance human health by developing novel imaging technology such as data acquisition, image reconstruction, analysis, modeling, visualization, simulation, and image interpretation. By creating more efficient and safer patient care, our biomedical imaging breakthroughs help prevent disease and improve the quality of health care.
The Center for Biomedical Imaging at Stanford University
The strategic Center for Biomedical Imaging at Stanford (CBIS) provides educational and networking opportunities in biomedical imaging. Through our CBIS internet site, you will be able to access imaging experts as well as imaging research; programs; resources;training;and seminars. Membership in CBIS is free and open to all faculty, staff, and students at Stanford University and its affiliated hospitals.
Along with two other Strategic Centers in the School of Medicine (SOM), CBIS is designed to build bridges between other campus departments, institutes, and schools, as indicated in the adjacent modified Venn diagram. The two other entities forming a matrix with CBIS within the SOM are the Stanford Center for Clinical Informatics (SCCI), and the Stanford Initiative for Human Genetics and Genomics (SIHGG). Each is part of a detailed, strategic plan for the future of Stanford biomedicine called Translating Discoveries. All three Strategic Centers enhance the connection between basic science and clinical medicine, creating opportunities for translating discoveries to patient care.
The Translating Discoveries plan also includes the five Institutes of Medicine listed below. While the three Strategic Centers focus on the creation, development, and implementation of a coherent set of new approaches and tools, the following five institutes tend to emphasize major organ systems or diseases.
CBIS conducted a survey in early 2008 to learn about potential research interests in different areas of biomedical imaging as well as about imaging instrumentation and resources. Surveys were sent to 1,306 faculty in 5 schools representing a total of 46 departments. Of these faculty, 354 completed our survey for a response rate of 27%. Respondents indicated their biomedical imaging interests and current practices. They also listed their concerns, which included access to clinical and research imaging; availability of educational resources; healthcare imaging costs; as well as modeling and simulation. We have designed the Center for Biomedical Imaging at Stanford University to address the concerns of our campus survey respondents, who were from a variety of disciplines such as comparative medicine, structural biology, health & research policy, psychiatry, and law. Thank you to all who participated. Please access our complete survey results.
