Past, Present and Future of Open Science (Lightning talk): The Open Source Imaging Initiative

[jsheunis]

The Open Source Imaging Initiative

By João Periquito, Max Delbrueck Center, Berlin, Germany

• Theme: Past, Present and Future of Open Science
• Format: Lightning talk

Abstract

MR technology is one of the most powerful medical tools ever made, yet it is not available in many places around the world. How can we change that? Make the technology cheaper? Would be a good start, but it is not enough! We need sustainable long term solutions. By applying the open-source strategy it is possible to use the immense potential of the research community in a more efficient way by means of collaboration. This will trigger innovation, customization, and cost-efficiency, but will also lead to local/regional production and knowhow transfer into regions that desperately need it. An open source strategy would furthermore diffuse into all important areas of our healthcare system, such as: technological optimization, scientific progress, regulatory harmonization, democratized markets, device safety, global health, education, and many more. Not less than that is our vision of the Open Source Imaging Initiative (OSI²) with our communication platform: www.opensourceimaging.org. We focus on sharing and not competing, because this is healthier to all of us.

Useful Links

https://www.opensourceimaging.org

Tagging @JoaoPeriquito

[pbellec]

From what I saw on the wiki, this exciting recent initiative founded about a year ago, as a satellite to ISMRM 2019 in Montreal. The OSI2 website currently offers a resource repository, which is neatly done, as well as a slack organization and a wiki. The initiative thus seems well structured, and could contribute to the development of open practices in imaging technologies (including hardware), which could potentially have a very large impact.