Integration of structural and functional information, artifact correction and motion correction in MRI/fMRI are well-studied topics in the medical imaging community. Emerging methodologies in MRI design and acquisition may benefit from robust image registration and processing tools that can efficiently support clinical utilities of functional as well as anatomical data. Recently, brain function, cardiac, lung and neonatal MRI have been a fast growing area of interest in medical imaging.

This tutorial is organized in two parts. The first half is focused on an overview of the current MRI/fMRI techniques being utilized on clinical or pre-clinical trial bases. The second half is focused on the development of the image registration and processing tools that support and enhance the clinical applications of MRI technologies. We will emphasize interaction between MR scientists, engineers and image processing groups on MRI, fMRI, image distortion, image registration, accelerated imaging, motion artifacts, magnetic susceptibility effects.

Objectives of this tutorial are:
• an overview of current advances in MRI/fMRI for bridging interest of students and researchers in the field of medical image processing and MR imaging science.
• an overview of current state of clinical utilities and technical challenges encountered in clinical or research applications.
• a review of the current and potential image acquisition, registration and processing algorithms that support and enhance the clinical applications.