Siegfried Trattnig, lead clinical researcher for 3 Tesla and 7 Telsa magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) projects at the Medical University of Vienna, will speak on Thursday, Feb. 24, at 12:30 p.m. in 239 Broun Wall. His presentation, “Advanced Musculo-skeletal Magnetic Research Imaging at Ultra-high Field,” will discuss the benefits of conducting ultrahigh-field magnetic resonance imaging. His lecture is part of the Samuel Ginn College of Engineering's Ginn Distinguished Lecture Series. 

In addition, Franz Schmitt of Siemens AG’s healthcare sector and imaging and therapy division, will talk on the status and outlook of ultra-high field imaging at Siemens at 4 p.m. in 246 MRI Research Center. Schmitt will discuss the stable and mature hardware and software platforms that now allow for imaging the head and knee. He will offer an overview of scanner types and present the latest developments from Siemens in ultra-high field MRI.  

Trattnig will discuss the ultra-high field 7 (T) MRI high signal noise ratio, which can improve the scan time for small structures in joints, as well as enhance the visualization of cartilage. Trattnig will also talk on the use of 7T sodium imaging to evaluate articular cartilage and phosphorus spectroscopy as a noninvasive tool to evaluate energy metabolism in healthy and diseased muscle.

Trained in radiology, Trattnig graduated from the University of Vienna Medical School in 1985. His distinguished career at the institution includes leadership positions at the department, clinic and institute level, as well as founding the Center of Excellence in High Field MR. Trattnig pioneered the field of biochemical cartilage MRI. He has written more than 260 articles and contributed to 22 books. His broad expertise has been acknowledged by appointments to numerous international scientific advisory boards.

The Samuel Ginn Distinguished Lecture Series was founded in 2005 to bring distinguished leaders from academic and business communities to Auburn University's campus to interact with faculty and students. The lectures cover subjects such as engineering, education, entrepreneurship, global engineering issues, and engineering and business leadership.  

For more on the Samuel Ginn Distinguished Lecture Series please visit this page. 

Contributed by Katie Brown