National Imaging Facility Annual Scientific Meeting 2026
29 July, 2026
Registration for in-person attendance closes 21 July; online attendance remains open
Download the updated program (final version)
NIF turns 20! Celebrate with us on 30 July at the ASM’s symposium day
We look forward to marking this special occasion during the ASM with attendees. We will hear from NIF Board member Anne-Marie Lansdown and CEO Wojtek Goscinksi, cut a delicious celebratory cake, and capture a group photo for #NIFturns20!
Optional tour and networking dinner – registration closes COB 24 July
Registration is extended for these optional activities for NIF community members, kindly hosted by NIF’s Newcastle Node Partner, the HMRI Imaging Centre:
- HMRI Imaging Centre Tour, Tuesday 28 July, 2:00–3:00 pm Hunter Medical Research Institute, New Lambton Heights NSW
- Optional dinner Wednesday 29 July, 6:30 pm Honeysuckle Hotel, Honeysuckle Drive, Newcastle (self-funded)
- Please check your email for the link to register.
The NIF 2026 Annual Scientific Meeting (ASM) will be held Wednesday 29 July – Friday 31 July 2026 in Newcastle, hosted by NIF’s Newcastle Node Partner Hunter Medical Research Institute (HMRI) Imaging Centre.
We invite you to join us at the ASM 2026 which brings together researchers, clinicians, infrastructure specialists, industry partners and policy leaders. Our ASM is a key opportunity for collaborations and sharing innovation within the national and international imaging communities.
This forum is a prime opportunity to share knowledge, spark collaboration and explore emerging directions in advanced imaging science. We expect its themes to include:
- advances in imaging technologies and methodologies that are expanding translation and research capabilities
- the growing role of data, analytics and digital infrastructure in enabling scale, integration and impact
- cross-disciplinary and translational research approaches that bridge discovery, clinical application and industry
- strengthening national and international collaboration to maximise the value of our shared imaging infrastructure.
Date & Time
29 July, 2026 - 31 July, 2026–
Location
Newcastle City Hall, 290 King St, Newcastle NSW 2300Emeritus Prof Annabelle Duncan, Prof Wojtek Goscinski
Mark Hughes OAM, Dr Kim Wark, Prof Michael Fay, Dr Elizabeth (Lizzie) Mason
Searching for a Cure: What Brain Cancer Imaging Can Tell Us, chaired by A/Prof Eng-Siew Koh
Dr Nick Fletcher, Dr Jessica Buck, Dr Stacey Rudd, Dr Gary Cowin
Innovative Applications of Preclinical Imaging and Theranostics, chaired by Prof Steven Meikle
Prof Fernando Calamante, Dr Sophie Lin, Dr Lena Oestrich, Prof Luke Henderson
Understanding the Brain Through Imaging, chaired by Prof Michael Breakspear
Dr Jennifer Rumbel, Dr Guy Cameron, Ms Lillian Langford, Ms Wendy Mohi, Ms Leigh Potter, Mr Gavin Stanbrook
Imaging in First Peoples Community, chaired by Uncle Malcolm Smith
Dr Ingrid Burvenich, Dr Yun Zhao, Ms Samiha Prima, Dr Kh Tohidul Islam, Dr Anthony Paproki, Dr Michèle Masson-Trottier, Mr Christian Behler, Mr Adam Martinac
Imaging Power Pitch, chaired by Dr Ekaterina (Caty) Salimova and Dr Michael de Veer
Register
Wednesday 29 July: Community Workshops
The day includes:
- NIF PET and Radiochemistry Scientists Joint Workshop
- Australian Imaging Service: Data Capture, Analysis, and Automation
- NIF Radiographers Community of Practice
- NIF Human MRI Network Meeting
- Building a National Framework for Quantitative MRI Harmonisation: Practical approaches to QA/QC, multicentre reproducibility, and scalable harmonisation
- Third Annual ULF and LF MR Workshop
- Engaging and creating relationships with the Indigenous communities in research – yarning as methodology
- MEG in Australia: Systems, Applications and Next Steps
Thursday 30 July: Scientific Symposium
The day includes:
- A Welcome to Country and opening remarks
- Session 1: Searching for a Cure: What Brain Cancer Imaging Can Tell Us, chaired by A/Prof Eng-Siew Koh
- Session 2: Innovative applications of preclinical imaging and theranostics, chaired by Prof Steven Meikle
- Session 3: Understanding the Brain Through Imaging, chaired by Prof Michael Breakspear
- An Overview of the Hunter Medical Research Institute by A/Prof Saadallah Ramadan
- Session 4: Imaging in First Peoples Community, chaired by Uncle Malcolm Smith
- Session 5: Imaging Power Pitches, chaired by Dr Ekaterina (Caty) Salimova and Dr Michael de Veer
- Awards and closing remarks
- Networking drinks
Friday 31 July: NIF Community Meetings
Who:
- NIF Community
The day includes:
- NIF Thematic Group Meeting: Human Imaging
- PET Harmonisation Workshop Planning Meeting
- NIF Thematic Group Meeting: Animals, Plants and Materials
- NIF Human Molecular Imaging Network Meeting
- NIF Thematic Group Meeting: Informatics
Thank you to our Gold Sponsors
Thank you to our Silver Sponsors
