Recent progress in all aspects of magnetic resonance is discussed in Prague.

The European Magnetic Resonance Meeting (EUROMAR) as a subdivision of Groupement AMPERE (Atomes et Molécules Par Études Radio-Électriques) was held in the Prague Congress Centre from 5. July to 10. July, 2015. The regular meeting covers all aspects of magnetic resonance including medical imaging technology. Prof. Vladimír Sklenář, the Chair of Local Organising Committee from Masaryk University, in cooperation with C-IN brought this largest European conference on magnetic resonance back to Prague after 13 years.

The Groupement AMPERE was established in the 50´s with the purpose of informing and coordinating different European Laboratories and, at the same time helping scientists in difficult economical or political post-war conditions. During the coldest periods of European politics, the Groupement Ampere played a key role in maintaining an efficient scientific and human exchange between western and eastern European countries. The motto proposed by it’s founder Prof. René Freymann is still valid today: To get to know each other, to listen to each other, to aid one another.

EUROMAR is offering a unique opportunity to report and witness the latest scientific breakthroughs in magnetic resonance, which is especially well known in medicine as an alternative imaging technology. However, a broad range of scientific fields use magnetic resonance, ranging from physics and chemistry to biology.  

The scientific program lasting 6 days included plenary and tutorial lectures, company symposias and workshops. This year´s eminent speakers invited to present their tutorial lectures were Ahaton Blank (Technion – Israel Institute of Technology, Israel), Artur G. Palmer III. (Columbia University, USA), Teodor Parella (Universitat Autonoma Barcelona, Spain).  The main sponsors and exhibitiors of the conference, Bruker and JEOL, prepared a thematical evening reception for all the delegates.  

Prof. Sklenář, Head of the Local Organising Committee of this year´s EUROMAR meeting and a leading Czech expert in the field of magnetic resonance, is also head of the Center of Structural Biology under the Masaryk University in Brno. Amongst others he works on many projects such as the structure and dynamics of polymers and infrastructure of nuclear magnetic resonance.  

During the opening ceremony both advanced researchers and young scientists were awarded. Prof. Malcolm H. Levitt was awarded with the Russell Varian Prize for inventing the composite pulses that are now routinely used in great majority of multidimensional NMR (Nuclear Magnetic Resonance) experiments. The Raymond Andrew Prize for an outstanding PhD thesis in the field of magnetic resonance was awarded to Dr. Jean-Philippe Demers.  

The C-IN team, who provided the conference with full organisational services, is honoured to cooperate with professionals from this highly progressive field of radiology. The biggest satisfaction is seeing the delegates enjoying the scientific and social program of the conference.