ULTRA-SR Challenge
Super-resolution (SR) ultrasound imaging, particularly through localisation and tracking of microbubble contrast agents (also known as ultrasound localisation microscopy or ULM), is a new exciting area of research in biomedical ultrasound with potential impact in a wide range of biomedical applications. In recent years many different SR methodologies and algorithms have been proposed by different groups and their applications to biological systems, pre-clinical models and clinical patients are being explored.
We challenge the participants to produce the best SR images using a set of data consisting of a number of contrast enhanced ultrasound image sequences generated through computer simulation and experimental acquisition. Participants are asked to submit:
- their SR imaging results in a pre-defined format;
- a paper summarizing details of the methodology. Paper submissions should follow the IEEE IUS 2022 proceedings guidelines.
All accepted participants are required to prepare a e-poster for presentation during the IEEE IUS 2022 in Venice. Posters will remain visible during the entire symposium.
There will be three categories in the competition including: 1) Localisation – simulation data with ground truth, 2) Overall (including localisation and tracking) – simulation data with ground truth, and 3) Overall (including localisation and tracking) for in vivo data.
The finalists in each category will have the opportunity to deliver oral presentations about their algorithms at the conference in a dedicated workshop. The top 1-2 finalists in each of the categories will be announced at the closing ceremony of the conference, and receive a cash prize.
A joint publication will be generated after the challenge.
We are grateful to the UK Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council and our industry sponsors for their generous support.
While the IUS2022 has finished and the awards of this first Ultra-SR challenge has been announced, we hope to continue to use this platform and registered email list to disseminate information relevant to the challenge and to the field in general. Please do register with us if you have not done so, in order to receive further information related to the challenge data sets and publications, as well as future events in the field.