Imaging is the visualization of a specimen s morphological, sometimes functional properties. In today's biomedical sciences, a myriad of advanced imaging techniques exists that can be applied in solution or in live cells, ex or in vivo, and in a pre-clinical or clinical setting, to provide molecular, physiological or pathological insights. Imaging techniques can be grouped according to the molecular/atomic properties they quantify (absorption, scattering, nuclear or electron resonance ), the type of radiation (light, radioactivity, electrons ) that is used for imaging, and whether or not tracers or labels are used.

Selected innovative, groundbreaking developments in the most popular imaging fields are presented through lectures, and where needed, fundamental principles and/or concepts are introduced. Demonstrations and/or site tours within UHasselt and hospitals create a feeling for the practical implementation of different imaging methods. (Homework) assignments that are handed in and graded furthermore help the student process the study material in an efficient manner.

The specific learning goals for this course are that the student is able to:

- explain the principles of optical, electron microscopy, mass spectrometry, nuclear magnetic resonance, positron emission tomography and related methods
- identify the different levels (from single molecule to animal) at which molecules are studied with a given imaging method
- list the possibilities and limitations of each method
- identify the physical sample properties that can be determined using a given method
- explain the advantage of multidisciplinary/multimodal imaging approaches
- choose a particular (set of) imaging method(s) to address a given problem