Helene M. Langevin, M.D.
October 25, 2022

The recentconference on total-body positron emission tomography (PET)in Edinburgh, Scotland was an exciting chance to engage with a research community that is playing a distinct role in the broader effort to advance the study of whole person health.

Over decades, innovations in medical imaging have added to our ability to peer into the body and understand essential functions. The emergence and evolution of ultrasound, computerized tomography (CT), magnetic resonance (MR) imaging, and other approaches have helped catalyze improvements in health care, equipping researchers and clinicians to understand, diagnose, and treat countless conditions. But in each case, the imaging technology has only offered a snapshot of parts and sections of the body. The edges of images serve as artificial walls that limit the visibility of physiologic processes.