Abstract “The future of molecular MR: A cellular and molecular imaging workshop” is an international meeting of researchers, physicians, and engineers in academia and industry who are interested in applying MR imaging to the study of disease at the molecular level. The overarching goal of the conference is to identify new opportunities for molecular MRI, to delineate the key challenges facing the field and to identify strategies to overcome these challenges. This meeting will encompass the use of various MR and hybrid imaging techniques to interrogate molecular processes in biology and pathobiology both in pre-clinical and clinical applications. The goals of the scientific sessions of this workshop are: 1) to identify how innovations in synthetic biology can be applied to molecular MR; 2) to combine advanced imaging techniques with molecular imaging to yield richer information; 3) to establish techniques for characterizing and quantifying aspects of the tissue microenviroment and metabolism; 4) to identify new types of signal generating moieties and how these may be optimized; and 5) to foster discussion and collaboration across these areas of research with established scientists in related scientific and technical fields and to encourage young scientists from diverse backgrounds to develop research careers in molecular MR imaging. The structure of the workshop entails first allowing invited speakers who are leaders in the specific session to introduce it by challenging the audience with their vision of the future. The sessions will be followed by oral and poster presentations selected from submitted abstracts by the organizing committee. Session topics include: 1) Nanomaterials, 2) Reporter genes, 3) Hyperpolarized MRI, 4) Responsive probes, 5) Imaging metabolism, 6) Heteronuclear reporters. The program will also include a special lecture and a session formed from top abstracts from young investigators. Poster sessions and networking events at the meeting will provide opportunities for communication and collaboration among attendees of all levels of training. There will be registration discounts for trainees, young investigators, and members of underrepresented groups as well as travel reimbursement based on top abstracts. This conference will leverage the breadth of expertise of a truly international and multidisciplinary group of researchers, who work in the area of molecular MR imaging and related fields, to identify and explore new avenues to advance basic and translational research opportunities, and to establish and foster communication, collaboration, and fellowship among the group.