AIM China Mentorships
exchanging excellence
ESOR’s Advanced Imaging Mentorship (AIM) China is a new training programme that fosters the exchange between European and Chinese radiological training centres, with a strong focus on research. This programme, supported by both Bracco Imaging and Siemens Healthineers, is designed in collaboration with the European Society of Radiology and coordinated by the European School of Radiology.
Candidates for this programme must demonstrate the ability to self-fund their stay. Selected participants may receive a grant, dependent on the quality of their application.
Application deadline: 7 September
how to apply
STEP 1
Log in to the MyESR portal and select ‘AIM China – Advanced Imaging Mentorships’.
(If you are not an ESR Member or need to renew your ESR Membership, please click here)
Applicants must provide all the following documents as a single PDF file:
Application Form
A completed and signed application form. The checklist at the bottom of the application form specifies relevant documents.
CV*
using the ESOR curriculum vitae template (.docx).
Letter of motivation
Addressed to the Evaluation Committee and including a summary of their training background, areas of particular strength and interest and a brief description of how they would hope to implement and apply their medical training.
Two different signed, stamped letters of recommendation
Addressed to the Evaluation Committee from the head of department of the current training centre or a previously undertaken academic training.
These letters must include the institutional letterhead.
Proof of self-funding
A signed declaration from a Head of Department or Academic Tutor confirming that the candidate is self-funded.
PLEASE NOTE:
- You may apply to only one ESOR programme at a time. Multiple applications will not be accepted.
- Selected candidates will be asked to provide additional documents to the training centre for administrative purposes.
- Selected candidates are asked to apply for their own work permits and insurance. Please consider potentially long visa application waiting times when applying. Training centres may provide assistance.
- Selected candidates must find their own accommodation. Training centres may provide further advice.
- All applications will be carefully reviewed by an evaluation committee after the submission deadline.
*Each candidate must submit their CV in the provided ESOR format. Differing CV formats will not be considered. Please note that only complete applications can be considered.
research projects
In 2027, 22 research projects, across 9 subspecialties, are available for you to choose from:
Abdominal Radiology
| Project | Title | Leader | Institution | Location |
| Identification of AI-based imaging biomarkers for diagnosis and prognostic stratification in primary biliary cholangitis | Maria Antonietta Bali | Gemelli University Hospital | Rome/IT | |
AIM_A_02 | Quantitative CT imaging biomarkers for prediction of treatment response after Transarterial Radioembolisation (TARE) in hepatocellular carcinoma: A cohort study | Roy Dwarkasing | Erasmus University Medical Center | Rotterdam/NL |
AIM_A_03 | Development of an algorithm for segmenting abdominal organs in a research setting | Luis Marti Bonmati | La Fe Health Research Institute (IIS La Fe) | Valencia/ES |
AIM_A_04 | Spectral dual-energy CT radiomics for improved diagnosis and characterisation of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma: development and validation of a reproducible imaging workflow | Milagros Otero Garcia | Hospital Alvaro Cunqueiro | Vigo/ES |
Breast Imaging
| Project | Title | Leader | Institution | Location |
AIM_B_01 | Multimodal imaging phenotypes of classic versus non-classic invasive lobular carcinoma | Caroline Malhaire | Institut Curie | Paris/FR |
AIM_B_02 | Performance of mammography AI in invasive lobular carcinoma: imaging features, histopathology, and detection errors | Caroline Malhaire | Institut Curie | Paris/FR |
Cardiovascular Imaging
| Project | Title | Leader | Institution | Location |
AIM_C_01 | Coronary artery calcification in lung cancer screening: prevalence, clinical impact, and preventive opportunities | Giulia Benedetti | Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust (GSTT) | London/UK |
| Impact of CT coronary angiography, FFR-CT, and plaque analysis on clinical decision-making and patient outcomes in rapid access chest pain clinic patients | Giulia Benedetti | Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust (GSTT) | London/UK |
Head and Neck Radiology
| Project | Title | Leader | Institution | Location |
AIM_HN_01 | Feasibility of CT/MRI radiomics for laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma within a multidisciplinary head and neck tumour board | Daniela Messineo | Sapienza University of Rome | Rome/IT |
Musculoskeletal Radiology
| Project | Title | Leader | Institution | Location |
AIM_MSK_01 | Innovative imaging-based techniques for body composition analysis and metabolic profiling | Falko Ensle | University Hospital Zurich | Zurich/CH |
Neuroradiology
| Project | Title | Leader | Institution | Location |
| AIM_N_01 | Neuroradiology of early brain health – advancing MR techniches for deep phenotypying of foetal neurodevelopmental disorders | Gregor Kasprian | Medical University of Vienna | Vienna/AT |
AIM_N_02 | Exploring imaging biomarkers of brain health, cerebrovascular disease and aging in older adults from the large scale TwinsUK MRI study | Jon Cleary | King’s College London | London/UK |
AIM_N_03 | Advanced MR imaging and artificial intelligence in neuro-oncology | Letterio Politi | Humanitas Research Hospital and Humanitas University | Milan/IT |
AIM_N_04 | Improved diagnosis of neurodegenerative disorders by cross-ethnic application of Stochastic Cortical Self-Reconstruction (SCSR) | Dennis Hedderich | Technical University of Munich | Munich/DE |
AIM_N_05 | Phosphorus and proton MR spectroscopy at 7 Tesla for metabolic characterisation of epilepsy and neurodegeneration | Ioana Hutuca | Geneva University Hospitals | Geneva/CH |
AIM_N_06 | Opportunistic imaging biomarkers from acute cerebrovascular imaging: AI-assisted quantification of metabolic and systemic risk in stroke | Josep Munuera | Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau | Barcelona/ES |
AIM_N_07 | Cerebral venous imaging biomarkers: AI-assisted multimodal analysis of venous patterns in neurovascular disease | Josep Munuera | Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau | Barcelona/ES |
Oncologic Imaging
| Project | Title | Leader | Institution | Location |
| International multicentre validation & continual-learning framework for cardiovascular-oncology | Hans-Ulrich Kauczor | University Hospital Heidelberg | Heidelberg/DE | |
| Diagnostic yield of whole-body MRI for early multicancer detection in adults with cancer predisposition syndromes | Giuseppe Petralia | European Institute of Oncology (IEO IRCCS) | Milan/IT |
Thoracic Imaging
| Project | Title | Leader | Institution | Location |
Urogenital Radiology
| Project | Title | Leader | Institution | Location |
| Evaluation of Whole-Body Magnetic Resonance Imaging (WB-MRI) for systemic staging and treatment decision impact in patients with unfavourable intermediate- and high-risk prostate cancer: the all-in-one MRI study | Giuseppe Petralia | European Institute of Oncology (IEO IRCCS) | Milan/IT | |
| Impact of artificial intelligence assistance on prostate MRI interpretation for the detection of clinically significant prostate cancer | Giuseppe Petralia | European Institute of Oncology (IEO IRCCS) | Milan/IT |
learn from the best
This Fellowship helps the applicant develop or establish a research programme in their institution. Instruction is given on data acquisition and analysis, procedure and image review, and data quality and bias management, through collaboration with statisticians, clinicians, and clinical scientists. Post-processing tools, writing skills, and presentation styles are also discussed.
The applicant will spend three months in a world-leading training centre working closely on a research project of their choice with experts in their field.
It is the Fellows’ responsibility to communicate with the host centre should the Fellow want greater responsibilities. ESOR acts solely as a facilitator and coordinator between the host centre and Fellow.
The training will be in English.
Duration of Fellowship and Funding
The Fellowship will last for 3 months and must take place in the first half of the year (January to June).
The Fellow must ensure their availability for three months during this period as postponement is not possible.
The Fellowship must be completed by the end of June 2027.
Applicants must be able to self-fund their participation in this programme.
Out of 20 Fellowships, up to 8 grants (of € 5000) will be awarded based on the quality of the candidate’s application, as determined by the Evaluation Committee, upon completion of the training, delivery of a final report, signed by the Head of Department of the host Training Centre, and submission of flight tickets and accommodation receipts.
The grant is intended to contribute in part to travel and accommodation expenses during the training period. ESOR cannot guarantee that the grant will cover these costs in full.
During the training period the Fellow is responsible for covering their expenses and their own health insurance. The training itself is offered for free.
Please note that in particular cases administrative charges may arise, which are to be covered by the grant.
Certification
Upon the receipt of a written report from the fellow about the fellow’s activities and work during the programme, the trainee will receive a certificate.
Evaluation committee
Applications to this programme will be evaluated by members of ESOR’s Steering and Programme Planning Committees.
