Medical image computing raises new challenges related to the scale and complexity of the required analysis, for example in studies that require the federation of large data sets or in complex models and processing. Grid technology is addressing problems related to large data sets manipulation over wide computing networks, providing tools for exchanging data and computing power and additionally serving as a vector for structuring the user communities as they enable cross-enterprises collaborations.

In the medical imaging area, grids provide a foundational layer that can be exploited e.g., to build patient-specific models, reduce computing time to meet clinical practice constraints, algorithms validation and optimization, or collaborative studies on rare diseases. Specific grids initiatives are emerging worldwide, demonstrating a growing interest from the health community for such infrastructures and impacting the way to conduct medical research. However, deploying medical image analysis applications on grid infrastructures requires a proper understanding of the specific needs in this area.

The scientific objectives of the MICCAI-Grid workshop are both to demonstrate the current achievements of grid technologies within the medical imaging community and to precisely identify the fundamental problems limiting the adoption of existing systems and methods. The workshop also intends to stimulate the community to build new collaborations by taking advantage of the sharing capabilities of grids. The MICCAI-Grid workshop will be held on 6 September 2008, in conjunction with the MICCAI conference.