Ron Heeren
Distinguished Professor, Maastricht University; Director, M4i, The Maastricht MultiModal Molecular Imaging institute; Member of the Dutch Academy of Arts and Sciences, The Netherlands
An exciting instrumental innovation… The amazing acceleration in spatial resolution in imaging MS.
Missing from the analytical toolbox? Accessible artificial intelligence tools that bring together morphological and molecular imaging data with the aim to facilitate easier clinical diagnostics.
Spending a $1 Billion research grant… I would establish a center for innovative translational medical technologies, to make the time to market of MedTech innovations substantially shorter. The center would consist of an unique analytical infrastructure, imaging facility, and engineering infrastructure. Augmented with a talent program, embedded industrial and clinical researchers and combined with the appropriate regulatory agencies in the same building. The open structure I would envisage will bring together dynamic interdisciplinary teams that would accelerate discovery, innovation and product development in a translational clinical setting.
Biggest challenge facing the field? Great translational analytical developments take too long to impact clinical care.
Most exciting trend today? Single cell focused spatial biology has now matured to bridge all different “omics,” which is exciting many researchers across the globe. This is revolutionizing our understanding of life’s complexity, which will impact many generations to come.
Most memorable advice? “You’ve got to stop and think about it, the inconceivable nature, of nature.” It’s a quote from Richard Feynman, not really advice, but to me it resonates with the complexity that we are trying to unravel… And how little we still understand
