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The 1st Workshop on Monte Carlo eXtreme for Biomedical Optics Research (MCX'17)

1. Summary
2. Event agenda
3. Directions
4. Important notes
5. Lodging and food
6. Collaboration meetings and troubleshooting
7. Organizer contact info
upload:mcx17_logo.png

1. Summary

Where
ISEC 138 (1st floor), Northeastern University, 805 Columbus Ave, Boston, MA 02115
When
Aug. 8-9, 2017
What
We are the developers of MCX and MMC, two NIH-funded high-performance Monte Carlo photon transport simulation platforms that are widely distributed among the biophotonics research community. We organize this two-day event to train our software users - particularly students and researchers in the biophotonics/imaging areas - to properly and efficiently use our photon simulation packages. We will cover various tools we have developed, including MCX, MMC, MCXLAB/MMCLAB, MCX Studio and Iso2mesh (for 3D mesh-generation). We will show our participants via interactive sessions on how to define simulation domains, setting critical parameters, running simulations, and displaying results.
How much it costs
Free! We thank the funding support from the NIH/NIGMS under Award# R01-GM114365. This event is not possible without this support!
What do you need
A laptop that can be connected to the Internet using Wifi/cable. We will have a reception/poster session on Day 1 (Aug. 8), we encourage all attendees to present a poster for your related research.
How to register
Seating and funding are limited! We can only accommodate up to 45 participants! Please submit your registration form asap, but no later than July 31, 2017.

2. Event agenda

Day 1 (Aug. 8):

  • 9:30-10:30 Opening introduction, Monte Carlo algorithm basics and overview to the MCX and MMC projects
  • 10:30-11:30 Interactive MCX training session - GPU accelerated MC simulations (MCX binary, MCX studio, MCXLAB, installation, optimization, tips)
  • 11:30-12:30 MCX hands-on session
  • 12:30-1:30 Lunch Break (lunch provided)

  • 1:30 - Starting MMC/iso2mesh training session
    • 1:30-2:00 MMC algorithm and simulation basics
    • 2:00-2:30 MMC/MMCLAB iterative training
    • 2:30-3:30 Medical image based 3D mesh generation - iso2mesh training
    • 3:30-4:30 Generating high-quality human brain 3D meshes
    • 4:30-5:30 Iso2mesh/MMC hands on sessions
  • 5:30 - Concluding the afternoon, group photo
  • 5:30-6:30 break
  • 6:30-8:00 Reception and posters

Day 2 (Aug. 9):

  • 9:30-11:00 Invited talks
    • 9:30-10:15 Emerging Trends in GPUs and Accelerators - by Prof. David Kaeli, Dept. ECE, Northeastern University
    • 10:15-11:00 " Clinical impact of fast GPU based Monte Carlo in proton therapy" - by Prof. Harald Paganetti, MGH
  • 11:00-11:30 MCX/MMC developer guide - interface and software structures
  • 11:30-12:00 User-developer round-table discussion & feedback session
  • 12:00 Concluding Day 2
  • Collaboration/troubleshooting meetings can be arranged with the MCX/MMC team in the afternoon. Please provide the meeting request in the Registration form or email the organizer to arrange for collaboration meetings.

3. Directions

The event will be held at the Interdisciplinary Science & Engineering Complex (ISEC) on the Northeastern University Boston campus.

If you live in the Boston area, you are highly encouraged to take the subway (the T). The ISEC building is only a block away (3-min by walking) from the Ruggles (orange-line) station. The Boston MBTA map can be found at here. You can transfer to the orange-line from Red line at Downtown Crossing, Green-line from North station and Hay market, or Blue-line at States station.

If you drive, please use the address "805 Columbus Ave, Boston, MA 02115" for your GPS settings. For parking, the cloest public parking garage is the Renaissance parking garage at 835 Columbus Ave, Boston. If you need funding assistance on parking, please contact the organizer directly.

4. Important notes

  • Please bring a laptop (and charging cables) with you in order to attend the training workshop.
  • A license of MATLAB that can be used during the event (if you don't have one, please contact the organizer).
  • Pre-installation of the needed software (MCX, MMC, iso2mesh and MATLAB) before the event is highly recommended.

5. Lodging and food

The organizer will cover the participant's lodging cost using our limited funding reservation. The housing is provided by the Northeastern University Conference Housing Office with two options: single-person room ($75/person/night) and two-person room ($65/person/night). Unfortunately, we can not provide lodging assistance for local attendees. If any attendee needs additional nights to stay, we can help you to reserve but the additional nights will be at your own cost.

We will also provide work lunch on Aug. 8, and the catering services for the reception on Aug. 8 evening. If you have special dietary request, please provide it in the registration form (or email the organizer).

Unfortunately, we can not provide reimbursement on transportation (flight tickets, buses, taxi, parking or subway) due to limited funding. If this cost is a major obstacle to your attendance of this event, please contact the organizer directly on additional assistance request.

6. Collaboration meetings and troubleshooting

We can arrange 3-4 meetings on Aug. 9 afternoon with the attendee groups to discuss possibilities of collaborations, including specifically requested features, assistance in data analysis, and particular challenges in using our software. Customization of our software and guidance in coding can be provided during such meetings upon request.

If you need to arrange such meetings, please provide related info in the Page 3 of the registration form, or email the organizer directly.

7. Organizer contact info

If you have any questions regarding this event, please feel free to contact the organizers. Their contact info is listed below.

  • Prof. Qianqian Fang (primary contact)
    • Email: q.fang at neu.edu
    • Phone: 617-407-5769 (cell), 617-373-3829 (office)
    • Office: ISEC 223
  • Prof. David Kaeli
    • Email: kaeli at ece.neu.edu
    • Phone: 617-373-5413 (office)
    • Office: Dana 333
  • Ms. Becky Jacobson (Dept. of Bioengineering coordinator)
    • Phone: 617-373-7805
    • Email:re.jacobson at northeastern.edu
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