The European Society of Radiology (ESR) is anticipating record levels of attendance at this year's ECR 2016, following a healthy increase in the number of preregistered participants compared with this time last year.
If preregistration patterns continue as expected, ECR 2016 will welcome the largest number of physical visitors in the history of the congress, ESR said.
Currently, preregistration is up 8%, with the boost attributed to the rising global appeal of the congress. China and Korea, two of the highest non-European countries on ECR attendance lists in recent years, have seen respective increases of 44% and 22% compared with preregistration numbers from February 2015. Both countries have been involved in the "ESR Meets" program at past ECRs and are among the top sources of abstract submissions for the congress every year, ESR said.
The biggest percentage change has been among participants from Iran, who have increased 74% from last year. Having also taken part in the "ESR Meets" program in 2011, the country has been strengthening bonds with European radiology and looks set to be one of the biggest growing sources of ECR attendees in the coming years.
Russia, another recent "ESR Meets" country and home of ECR 2014 President Dr. Valentin Sinitsyn, PhD, has also seen a 22% increase.
