|
Outstanding Researcher Award
Deadline Date: June 15, 2009 Purpose: To annually recognize and honor one senior individual who has made original and significant contributions to the field of radiology or radiologic sciences throughout a career of research. Award: Recipients will be honored at the opening session of the RSNA Scientific Assembly and Annual meeting, with complimentary first class, round-trip airfare and hotel accommodations, and a $200 per diem.
Eligibility: To be considered for the award, the nominee must be North American and must demonstrate a long-term commitment (15+ years) to radiologic research as evidenced by:
- Publication of original, research-focused articles in scholarly, peer-reviewed journals, textbooks or chapters of textbooks.
- Service as the principal investigator on peer-reviewed, nationally funded research studies (or internal support for individuals who are not eligible for national funding, e.g., NIH affiliates.)
- Presentation of scientific papers and exhibits at national and international meetings.
- Service as a mentor for a new generation of research physicians and scientists in the radiologic sciences.
- Significant scientific discoveries with the potential to effect major changes in the imaging sciences or patient treatment.
In rare situations, the award may go to a mid-career individual who has made an extraordinary contribution to research in radiology. Recipients of the RSNA Gold Medal are not eligible. Nomination Process: Initial nomination packets consist of a 1-page letter of intent and the nominee's complete CV. Nomination materials must be received by June 15. Self-nominations will be accepted. Materials may be sent via email to Scott Walter at: swalter@rsna.org. Nominators of the top candidates will be asked to provide a second, detailed letter of nomination that addresses each of the bulleted items on the nomination forms, and two or more corroborating letters of support. Download the Nomination Form
Outstanding Researcher Award Recipients
| 
Ralph Weissleder, MD, PhD
2008 | Ralph Weissleder, MD, PhD, is a professor of radiology and systems biology at Harvard Medical School, director of the Center for Systems Biology at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH), director of the Center for Molecular Imaging Research in the Department of Radiology, and attending clinician in interventional radiology at MGH. Dr Weissleder is also a member of the Dana Farber Harvard Cancer Center, the Harvard Stem Cell Institute, and an associate member of the Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT. Dr Weissleder received his medical and doctorate degrees from the University of Heidelberg, Germany, and completed his radiology residency training at MGH. He has been at MGH/Harvard Medical School since 1986. Dr Weissleder’s primary research interests are in the field of in vivo molecular imaging, specifically, development of novel molecular imaging tools to the study of complex human diseases. He has made fundamental discoveries in early disease detection, development of nanomaterials for sensing and systems analysis. These basic research interests go hand in hand with his clinical interests in abdominal and interventional radiology. Specific examples of his translational research that have led to advanced clinical trials include the development of novel nanomaterials for MR detection of lymph node metastases; development of enzyme activatable probes for the detection of early cancers by minimally invasive techniques such as laparoscopy; and clinical testing of long circulating polymers for angiogenesis imaging. Dr Weissleder has been a fully funded researcher for nearly 20 years. He is currently the principal investigator of several NIH grants, including R01, P01, U24, and U54 grants, a P50 center grant, and a U01 nanotechnology consortium grant. He has published over 400 original publications in peer-reviewed journals, over 90 review articles, has authored and co-authored several textbooks, and holds over 30 patents. As a mentor to 4–6 postdoctoral fellows per year, Dr Weissleder has produced over 150 molecular imaging experts, many of whom are already well known in the field. He is a highly coveted, world renowned keynote speaker, one of the few superstars whose presence is valued in many fields, most recently in the fields of cancer and metabolic and cardiovascular diseases. He is a founding member of the Society for Molecular Imaging Research and served as its president in 2002. He has unselfishly given his time and energy to RSNA to help launch its Molecular Imaging Committee and served as its inaugural chair. His work has been honored with numerous awards including the J. Taylor International Prize in Medicine, Millennium Pharmaceuticals Innovator Award, Association of University Radiologists (AUR) Memorial Award, American Roentgen Ray Society (ARRS) President's Award, Society for Molecular Imaging Lifetime Achievement Award and the Academy of Molecular Imaging 2006 Distinguished Basic Scientist Award. The impact of Dr Weissleder’s work is still to be felt as the field of molecular imaging is still young; however, he has taken radiology down important roads that will forever change the world of imaging sciences. “Dr Weissleder has been working on molecular imaging way before this term entered the consciousness of radiologists.”- King C. Li, MD, MBA, M. D. Anderson Foundation Distinguished Chair in Radiology and Imaging Sciences, Professor of Radiology, Weill Cornell Medical College, Chair, Department of Radiology, Methodist Hospital Houston “I speak from my experience as the former chief of the Molecular Imaging Branch of the Cancer Imaging Program of the National Cancer Institute (NCI) that Dr Weissleder is regarded as one of the most respected and accomplished imaging scientists in the world.”- John M. Hoffman, MD, Willard Snow Hansen Presidential Endowed Chair in Cancer Research, Professor of Radiology and Neurology, Director of Nuclear Medicine, Director: Molecular Imaging Program, Huntsman Cancer Institute, University of Utah School of Medicine “Dr Weissleder has taught the rest of us that a radiologist can conduct world-class research, produce highly practical results, and be taken very seriously by other disciplines.”- Peter L. Choyke, MD, Chief, Molecular Imaging Program, NCI
| 
Bruce J. Hillman, MD
2007 | Bruce J. Hillman, MD, began his radiology career as a resident at Peter Bent Brigham Hospital (now Brigham & Women’s Hospital) in Boston. His training included a research fellowship at the Peter Bent Brigham-Shields Warren Research Laboratory. At the University of Arizona, Dr Hillman served as section head of genitourinary radiology and vice-chair of radiology. At the University of Virginia, he served as chair of radiology, and is now the Theodore E. Keats professor of radiology and professor of health policy.
As a research scientist, Dr Hillman has published more than 160 peer-reviewed articles, 34 book chapters, 4 books, and two defining works on the utilization of imaging by non-radiologists, published in The New England Journal of Medicine and The Journal of the American Medical Association. He is a highly sought-after speaker, with 300+ worldwide lectureships, of which 30 or more have been named, special, or keynote lectures. He has received 22 grants as principal investigator or co-investigator, including the National Cancer Institute (NCI) $23 million UO-1 award that led to the founding of the American College of Radiology Imaging Network (ACRIN) in 1999. ACRIN, a consortium to generate, execute, and report on multicenter clinical trials in imaging as related to cancer, has accrued more than 76,000 participants to imaging clinical trials and published significant papers in high-impact journals. To date, the network, for which Dr Hillman is the principal investigator and chair, has received a staggering $192+ million in grant funding.
Through his contributions to numerous professional societies, Dr Hillman has earned the respect of colleagues at both national and international levels. He has served on numerous committees for the Association of University Radiologists (AUR), American College of Radiology (ACR), RSNA, Academy of Radiology Research (ARR), and a host of others. His leadership has become evident, serving as editor-in-chief of Investigative Radiology, Academic Radiology, and the Journal of the American College of Radiology. He has been president of the Virginia chapter of the ACR, served on the ACR Board of Chancellors for more than 10 years, and has been president of the Eastern Radiological Society, Society of Uroradiology, and AUR.
Dr Hillman developed or co-developed many radiology research, education and mentoring programs that are still functioning today. Among them, the RSNA/ARRS/AUR Introduction to Research Program, the Picker-AUR Young Faculty Academic Development Program, the General Electric-AUR Radiology Research Academic Fellowship (GERRAF), and the Alliance for Health Services Research in Radiology.
Dr Hillman has received 26 honors and awards, including ACR fellowship, the Society of Uroradiology Research Award, honorary membership in the Society of Computer Applications in Radiology, and the AUR gold medal. He was twice selected as one of the “20 Most Influential People in Radiology” by Diagnostic Imaging magazine, and was recently appointed to the National Cancer Institute Clinical Trials Advisory Committee. Under his direction, ACRIN received the Distinguished Service Award for Scientific Leadership, presented by the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO).
“I firmly believe that Dr Hillman is largely responsible for making contemporary clinical trial methodology an integral part of radiological research, addressing a major weakness in our field,” - R. Nick Bryan, MD, PhD, Eugene P. Pendergrass Professor and Chair of Radiology at the University of Pennsylvania Health System
“Dr Hillman’s career epitomizes great dedication to both his own research and the development of better research in our specialty. His innovations, leadership and contributions to our field have enabled radiology to train more and better researchers and conduct more rigorous research than would otherwise be the case.” - Laurie L. Fajardo, MD, Chair of Radiology at the University of Iowa
“Based on the work that he has done in developing and nurturing ACRIN, I feel he is deserving of this outstanding award; however, he has the additional contributions of investigator in genitourinary radiology and health policy that make his career unique.” - Harvey L. Neiman, MD, ACR Executive Director
| 
Richard L. Ehman, MD
2006
| Richard L. Ehman, MD, Professor of Radiology at Mayo Medical School, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, has been a leader in the field of magnetic resonance (MR) imaging since the mid 1980’s when he was recruited as a clinical fellow to head the MR Research Program at Mayo Clinic. Interestingly, one of Dr Ehman’s first research grants came from the RSNA R&E Foundation: a Research Scholar grant entitled “Development of a Comprehensive Method for High Resolution Magnetic Resonance Imaging of Moving Structures”. Not long after, Dr Ehman was well on his way to becoming a fully funded NIH researcher. He continues to be active in research with 8 extramurally-funded projects, 7 of which are funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH). His ongoing research has led to 21 patents in the United States, over 170 publications, 240 refereed abstracts and 35 poster exhibits presented at various national and international meetings.
In addition to his own research, Dr Ehman is known for his active role as teacher and mentor to radiologists, physicists and research scientists. Included in the list of trainees is Bernard F King Jr, MD, FACR, now Professor, and Chair of Radiology at Mayo Clinic: “Dr Ehman’s mentorship serves as a shining example to many of us in the field of radiology and has set the standard of mentorship for future generations here at Mayo and beyond…”
Dr Ehman is a passionate advocate of radiology research in general. He serves in several leadership roles at the Mayo Clinic, including Vice Chair of the Rochester Executive Board and as a member of the Mayo Clinic Board of Governors. His extramural activities include reviewing articles and serving on the editorial boards for journals such as Radiology, Journal of Computer Assisted Tomography, Journal of Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Clinical Journal of Sports Medicine, Magnetic Resonance Quarterly, Magnetic Resonance in Medicine, and Computer Aided Surgery. He has served as a reviewer and chair for NIH study sections, and as President of the International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine (ISMRM). Dr Ehman’s honors and awards include the ISMRM Gold Medal, Fellowships of the Society of Magnetic Resonance Imaging, American Institute of Medical and Biological Engineering, and the American College of Radiology. He was awarded an honorary Doctor of Science Degree by the University of Saskatchewan, the same institution where he received his B.Sc. and MD degrees.
Dr Ehman’s research interests include magnetic resonance imaging, musculoskeletal MRI, vascular and cardiac MRI, motion and flow physics in MRI, and MR elastography. As Thomas E Hartman, MD, Professor of Radiology at Mayo Clinic, summarized, “It is apparent that Dr Ehman has played a core-role in past and present MR research and there is every indication that he will continue to be [a] core contributor to MR research in the future. Many of the techniques utilized in MR imaging today were developed as a result of the various research projects conducted by Dr Ehman over the years.”
|  Dixon M. Moody, MD
2005
| Dixon M. Moody, MD, is a neuroradiologist whose extensive research has significantly and fundamentally impacted our understanding of a wide variety of human diseases affecting the entire range of human life—from infants to the elderly.
He has described the classic signs for the radiologic diagnosis of venous and cerebral thrombosis. He has developed a powerful new technique of microvascular radiography that merges traditional histopathology with radiologic methods. He has also turned conventional notions upside down with regard to several important diseases, including brainstem hemorrhage, germinal matrix hemorrhage and Alzheimer disease. He recently discovered an anomaly of the brain microvasculature, called string vessels, in patients with Alzheimer dementia.
Dr. Moody’s detective work in discovering and characterizing the source of microemboli during cardiopulmonary bypass surgery has resulted in a radical change in cardiovascular anesthesia techniques worldwide.
He earned his medical degree at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas and completed his internship and residency at Stanford University School of Medicine. Dr. Moody is currently a professor and chief of neuroradiology at the Wake Forest University School of Medicine in Winston-Salem, N.C. Research at his laboratory at Wake Forest has been continually funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) since 1984 and he has served as the principal investigator on seven separate NIH grants.
| 
Steven M. Larson, MD
2004
| Steven M. Larson, MD, is one of the world's foremost experts in targeted radiotherapy and molecular imaging. His research, which spans three decades, has resulted in many novel findings especially in understanding cancer. Using carbon-14 labeled media and a sensitive radiodetector system, Dr. Larson was able to rapidly identify bacterial and cell growth, a technology that is used widely today for detecting mycobacterium tuberculosis, including assessing drug sensitivities.
Dr. Larson has successfully tackled the problems of antibody production, radiolabeling, humanization of the antibody, minimizing host immune response, and developing methodologies to quantify response. His research in detection of colo-rectal cancer has been successfully applied in the treatment of patients with advanced tumors.
As an expert on translational aspects of nuclear medicine, Dr. Larson has made significant contributions to the advancement of positron emission tomography (PET) as a clinical tool for oncology. He was recruited to the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in 1983, in part to establish a state of the art PET center for NIH researchers. His success in this endeavor led to an NIH Directors Medal in 1987 for him and his colleagues.
While conducting cutting-edge research in targeted therapy and related molecular imaging, Dr. Larson continues to be heavily involved in teaching, administration, and clinical care. Dr. Larson currently serves as Chief of the Nuclear Medicine Service at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC), Director of Radiology Research in the Department of Radiology and Director of the PET Center at MSKCC. He also is Professor of Radiology at Cornell University Medical College.
Dr. Larson has authored or co-authored 430 manuscripts in major peer reviewed journals, including Science, Nature Medicine, Nature Biotechnology, Radiology, The New England Journal of Medicine, and Journal of Nuclear Medicine. He has also served on several governmental advisory committees and study sections at the NIH, the Department of Energy, and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). He was awarded the Wylie medal of the FDA for his contributions to the development of radiopharmaceutical regulations. Other awards include the Louise and Lionel Berman Foundation, Inc. award for accomplishments in the field of nuclear medicine involving the peaceful use of atomic energy, the first Ralph G. Robinson Lecture Award of the American College of Nuclear Physicians, the Berson Yalow Award from the New England Chapter of the Society of Nuclear Medicine, and the G. V. Hevesy Lecture-Medal. It is very fitting to add the RSNA Outstanding Researcher award to the impressive list of Dr. Larson's accomplishments and honors.
| 
Robert C. Brasch, MD
2003
| Robert C. Brasch, MD, is considered one of the giants in radiologic contrast media research. Having founded the research laboratory at the University of California, San Francisco, Dr. Brasch has been devoted to research in radiology and contrast media since 1976. The major thrust of his early work was related to an exploration of the role that the immune system plays in contrast media reactions. His work in that area is regarded as the gold standard.
Very early in his research career, he realized the importance of radiation dose to pediatric patients in CT and carefully tested the exposure, depending on the type of equipment and procedure, using specially designed pediatric phantoms. Dr. Brasch has twice received the John Caffey award for research in pediatric imaging. He also was awarded the Harry Fisher medal for contrast media research.
In recent years Dr. Brasch and his associates have turned their attention to the developing field of MR imaging contrast media. His laboratory did some of the first contrast enhanced MR imaging, including early experimental imaging with gadolinium chelates in the early 1980s. Recently his attention has focused on an exploration of imaging methodologies that might be used to characterize tumor vascularity at the arteriolar and capillary levels. He was one of the first individuals to receive NIH support for MR imaging contrast media research.
Dr. Brasch has authored more than 260 scientific articles and has written 72 book chapters. He has trained over 40 fellows in contrast media research from around the world. One of his fellows noted: "During my stay in San Francisco, I was deeply impressed and fascinated by the way Robert Brasch could guide, counsel and help the different fellows working with him. He was able to provide a warm atmosphere in his laboratory, which encouraged every fellow to give the best he could to the research work. His human qualities are extraordinary and he is a wonderful example to follow."
Dr. Brasch has been active for three decades in research and is valued for his effective way of introducing young radiologists from all over the world to experimental radiologic research.
| 
Ferenc A. Jolesz, MD
2002
| Ferenc A. Jolesz, MD, is considered one of the great innovators and leaders in radiologic research in the world and has distinguished himself by making breakthrough contributions in the domain of image-guided therapy.
Early in his career, Dr. Jolesz recognized the potential for imaging tools to guide minimally invasive therapies. His first and best know accomplishment was the design and implementation of a "Double Donut" MR system that could be placed in an operating theatre. The instrument, now known as MRT for MR Guided Therapy is in use in sites around the world. Dr. Jolesz' contributions have been recognized not only in radiology but also in surgery and particularly in neurosurgery. He is considered a pioneer in modern image guided brain surgery.
Dr. Jolesz also is recognized for his work to perfect the use of high intensity focused ultrasound as a tissue ablation tool and to integrate it with MR imaging guidance systems, and he is credited for developing, refining, and introducing into clinical practice the idea of direct, real time MR image guided surgical interventions.
He has published over 100 research articles in scholarly, peer-reviewed journals and has contributed many chapters and review articles in the fields of surgery, computer science, neurology, neurosurgery and radiology. Having served with distinction on the faculty of Harvard Medical School, Brigham and Women's Hospital for more than 20 years,
Dr. Jolesz currently is the B. Leonard Holman Professor of Radiology at Harvard and Vice-Chair for Research in Radiology at Brigham and Women's Hospital.
|  Gary H. Glover, PhD
2001 | Gary H. Glover, PhD, Department of Radiology at Stanford University School of Medicine, has received international recognition as the pioneer in developing systems and establishing standards for magnetic resonance and computed tomography imaging.
As senior physicist for General Electric Medical Systems, Dr. Glover was a member of the original five-man magnetic resonance development team for Medical Systems. He also held the responsibility for high-quality computed tomography imaging. Dr. GloverÆs expertise and continuing research advances have benefited the entire radiology community.
Author of the landmark articles on magnetic resonance imaging, Dr. Glover is the foremost authority on its uses in medicine. He holds nearly 50 patents on his research developments. His lectures on current concepts in imaging have been offered in many postgraduate courses, attracting students and practitioners nationwide. Dr. Glover is an outstanding lecturer who is eagerly recruited to share his new techniques in imaging at national and international conferences.
Dr. Glover was honored with GE's highest scientific award, the Steinmetz Award, and with the Gold Medal Award from the International Society of Magnetic Resonance in Medicine. For five years he was a Nobel Prize Nominator in Physiology and Medicine. He has offered updates and refresher courses in imaging techniques at RSNA scientific sessions.
Dr. Glover is recognized by his colleagues as a superb researcher and major contributor to the advancement of radiological imaging. RSNA recognizes him as the embodiment of a teacher-researcher who serves as a mentor for students, practitioners, and researchers.
| 
Charles B. Higgins, MD
2000
| Charles B. Higgins, MD, Department of Radiology, University of California, San Francisco, is known and respected by his colleagues and by the whole radiology community for his research and teaching in cardiovascular disease having published many of the seminal articles on cardiovascular MRI and being the single most important contributor to Cardiac MRI research for the past decade. Dr. Higgins has received numerous awards, including the RSNA Award of Honor when he presented the New Horizons lecture in 1984, and the American Heart Association distinguished scientific achievement award.
Dr. Higgins is the radiological expert in the field of cardiac imaging. He is an outstanding lecturer eagerly recruited to speak at scientific conferences around the world, and his talks are universally admired. He is also an outstanding author - MRI of the Body, one of the many books he has edited, is one of the major texts in the field.
In addition to publishing landmark studies and developing major research initiatives, Higgins has served as a mentor to scores of American physician-scientists in cardiovascular imaging research and research scholars from around the world. Because of his own contributions and his mentorship and training of other investigators, he is widely regarded as the most influential and important cardiac imager of his generation. Charles Higgins is recognized by his colleagues as a scholar of breadth and depth; a man of vision and tenacity; a superb mentor and role model. By giving Dr. Higgins this award, the RSNA recognizes him as the very embodiment of a physician-researcher.
| 
Kurt Amplatz, MD
1999
| 
Barry B. Goldberg, MD
1998
| 
Elliot C. Lasser, MD
1997
| 
Eric J. Hall, DSc
1996
| 
David E. Kuhl, MD
1996
| |
|
|
