The field of molecular imaging in China has been evolving with developmental progress of the world. Hangzhou International Molecular Imaging Conference (HIMIC) is the earliest international conference held by China in the field of molecular imaging, with English as the conference official language. As an international scientific and professional platform in molecular imaging hosted by Zhejiang University and approved by the Ministry of Education of China, HIMIC has played an important role in connecting China and the world in the field. The inaugural HIMIC was held in 2005, aiming to develop a highly effective cross-disciplinary education and research program, strengthen the innovative working group and develop novel technologies for translational research and clinical practice, enhance international collaborations and multicenter clinical trials, and work with professionals around the world for molecular imaging and nuclear medicine in Asia. During the past 18 years since 2005, HIMIC has attracted more than 200 world’s top scientists in a variety of fields including medicine, medical imaging, chemistry, physics, pharmacology, from various countries around the world such as China, USA, UK, Italy, Germany, Spain, Switzerland, Austria, Japan, Korea, and Finland. The distinguished multi-disciplinary experts gathered and exchange academic progress and scientific development, making HIMIC an important window of China in the field, which opens to the world, connects the world, and works together with the world to promote the common cause of human being and help to build a community of human destiny.

The HIMIC plays an important role as a bridge of international collaboration in promoting the development of molecular imaging in China. For example, the “China, Japan and South Korea Foresight Program” (A3 Foresight Program) is a cooperative research program jointly initiated by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC), the Japan Association for the Promotion of Academia (JSPS) and the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF), which aims to sponsor scientists from China, Japan and South Korea to conduct collaborative research in specific fields. As the permanent president of HIMIC, Prof. Mei Tian has received two consecutive fundings of A3 foresight program in the field of molecular imaging, thus greatly support the improvements of molecular imaging and precision management research of major diseases in Asia. It’s also noted that Prof. Mei Tian is the first Chinese scientist who has been elected as the president of World Molecular Imaging Society (WMIS). She has just successfully hosted the 16th World Molecular Imaging Congress (WMIC) in Prague, Czech Republic, on September 5–9, 2023, and further advancing international cooperation in the field of molecular imaging in the world. In recent years, China has seen great progress in nuclear medicine and molecular imaging, which can be reflected in the dramatically increased number of novel radiopharmaceuticals developed in China and published scientific papers in the top journals. There are a great number of Chinese professionals who participate actively in the major international professional conferences in nuclear medicine, radiology and ultrasound, hosted by WMIS, EANM, SNMMI, RSNA, and WFUMB, which also reflects the rapid development of China’s molecular imaging.

For the 16th HIMIC meeting, it was held in one of the most beautiful cities, Hangzhou in China, on October 14th, 2023, with a theme “Molecular Imaging: the Pathway to New Discoveries”. HIMIC is dedicated to offer a compact and intimate forum for in-depth discussion, as well as a bridge for collaboration and friendship. Zhejiang University hosted this conference, bringing together more than 100 experts, researchers and clinicians from China, USA, Italy, Japan, Korea, and Finland. The HIMIC2023 president is Prof. Hong Zhang from Zhejiang University, with three co-presidents, Prof. Weihong Tan from Chinese Academy of Science, Prof. Charles Manning from the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, and Prof. Mei Tian from Fudan University.

HIMIC2023 contained 4 keynote lectures, of which the topic areas range from chemical biology, artificial intelligence (AI), cancer and theranostics. The keynote speaker Prof. Weihong Tan presented a lecture named “Molecular Imaging and Cancer Subtyping with Aptamers”, highlighting the applications of aptamers in molecular imaging, proteomic profiling, and targeted treatment for cancer. Prof. Arturo Chiti gave a keynote lecture named “Artificial Intelligence in Nuclear Medicine, a Clinician Perspective”, emphasizing the potential of AI in promoting drug development, image analysis, pattern recognition, dosimetry, and big data analysis in the field of nuclear medicine and molecular imaging. The keynote speaker Professor Gary Ulaner delivered a talk on “Estrogen Receptor (ER)-targeted PET with Fluorestradiol for Breast Cancer”, providing an overview of 16α-18F-fluoro-17β-Fluorestradiol (FES) PET, potential clinical applications, limitations, and what may be on the horizon for the growing tool for the care of patients with breast cancer. Prof. Charles Manning presented a keynote lecture on “Radionuclide Diagnostics and Therapeutics Discovery at MD Anderson Cancer Center”, illuminating key opportunities for future highly impactful international collaborations by introducing the vision for theranostics and unique capabilities at the MD Anderson Cancer Center.

The HIMIC2023 has 6 invited lectures, with the topics cover from AI, neurology, cardiology, senescence, lymphatics, and medical instruments. In the invited lecture sessions, Prof. Mijin Yun presented potential of AI in brain PET/CT imaging; Prof. Chunlei Han gave a talk on PET imaging human myocardial perfusion using 15O-labeled water; Prof. Ming-Rong Zhang shared recent advances on development of radio-theranostics agents for senescent cells; Prof. Minseok Suh made a lecture on lymphatics in human diseases (e.g., cardiovascular, aging, and neurological disorders); Prof. Heinrich Schelbert shared recent advances on extracellular matrix of the heart as a new target of molecular imaging; and Dr. Yun Dong presented current status and prospects of high-end molecular imaging equipment in China.

The panel discussion of HIMIC 2023 focuses on “how to attract young talent to nuclear medicine?” and “how to verify AI systems?”. It was recognized that there has been an increasing number of nuclear medicine physicians all over the world, and potential ways to continually increase attractiveness of nuclear medicine include positive propaganda, improvement of diagnostic accuracy, introduction of theranostics, reduction in examination cost, and augmenting the income. For the development of correctness in AI, high-quality data-based training occupied the most important position, and AI was believed to have extensive and important applications in clinical practice in the future.

In summary, HIMIC is a comprehensive and forward-looking international annual conference in the field of molecular imaging in China. Currently, molecular imaging has penetrated into various universities, research institutes, and hospitals, not only for scientific research, but also for clinical practice. The Chinese government is particularly supportive for the development of nuclear medicine and molecular imaging, and many major scientific research projects and grants have been developed to promote the construction and advancement of molecular imaging in China. In the future, professionals in the field of molecular imaging in China would be more closely connected and work with international societies, such as WMIS, SNMMI, EANM, and RSNA. Particularly, HIMIC would further work closely together with the colleagues from the world to promote scientific research, professional training, and international cooperation for China, Asia and the world in the field of molecular imaging (Fig. 1).

Group photo of the 16th Hangzhou International Molecular Imaging Conference (HIMIC 2023)