Survey Reveals Long-lasting Positive Impact of R&E Grants
A survey this year of more than 600 RSNA Research & Education (R&E) Foundation grant recipients revealed that the grants have significant bearing on the recipients' subsequent funding, research breakthroughs, peer-reviewed publications, academic careers and mentorship.
 C. Leon Partain, M.D., Ph.D. Vanderbilt University |
The survey, which had yielded a 57 percent response rate at the time of results calculation, indicated a substantial return on investment. On average, each dollar awarded by the R&E Foundation generated more than $30 in subsequent grants.
"The return on investment, calculated as new grant dollars earned as principal investigator and/or co-investigator compared to R&E grant dollars invested, has grown since the 2003 survey from $20 to $33, or an increase of 65 percent," said C. Leon Partain, M.D., Ph.D., professor of radiology, radiological sciences and biomedical engineering at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tenn., and R&E Board of Trustees liaison to the Evaluation Committee.
The Foundation received a flood of positive comments when respondents were asked about the impact of R&E grants on their careers in a series of free-response survey questions. Said one R&E research scholar: "The grant established me as an independent investigator and helped me to achieve the rank of associate professor with tenure. It allowed me to develop and refine educational informatics tools, techniques and procedures for radiologists, and I was able to go on to obtain a 10-year, $2 million grant from the Department of Defense to create additional tools for U.S. Navy healthcare providers."
Another respondent noted: "The scholar grant, in particular, allowed me to study tumor ablation in depth. Since that time, I have used the data and experience garnered from these grants to obtain National Institutes of Health funding, start a small biotech company and invent several medical devices. None of this would have been possible without the 'launch pad' that the scholar grant provided me."
Yesterday's Research Tied to Today's Practice
Many grant recipients said they were thankful for the protected research time their grants allowed, and commented that their success in R&E-funded research inspired them to continue in academic careers. Seventy-one percent of respondents plan to have a career in academic research in the next five years, while 43 percent look forward to careers in academic education. Of the respondents, 6 percent reported they are department chairs and 14 percent reported they are division heads.
Others commented that research scholar grants funded research into techniques that were considered novel or experimental at the time—and therefore not easily funded by other sources—but are now widely accepted as the standard. "My work on noninvasive iron quantification by MR has become the standard of care for transfusional iron overload," said one respondent. Noted another, "MR spectroscopy and MR perfusion of brain tumors are clinical tools nowadays in diagnostic radiology and the RSNA scholar grant helped me develop these as such."
Recipients of R&E research seed grants said their awards gained them recognition as serious investigators and opened doors for additional funding. A recipient wrote, "The RSNA seed grant was the most significant in terms of impact—it came early in my career and helped me to 'reclassify' myself as a bona fide academic." Another respondent said the seed grant "was the first recognition I received that my work was potentially important, and was a major incentive to continuing my research career."
Also noteworthy, said the Evaluation Committee, was recipients' success with peer-reviewed publications. Ninety-three percent of respondents reported that they have gone on to publish peer-reviewed articles and 86 percent said they have published articles as a first author.
Grant Recipients Become Mentors
A new survey question about recipients' roles as mentors generated a stirring response—84 percent said they serve as mentors to young trainees and investigators. The survey also invited recipients to comment on what they see as the current and future needs of the radiologic specialties and how the R&E Foundation can help. Respondents readily provided feedback that will influence future grant award decisions.
"Medical imaging of the future will be practiced by those who do the research and education to develop and apply it," said Dr. Partain. "Our mandate together is to seek, describe and apply new knowledge and to train new practitioners. If we do not pursue this mandate with passion and commitment, others will."
Dr. Partain encouraged RSNA members to view these results as affirmation that R&E programs are working as intended—to serve as springboards for future success. "The fraction of members who contribute to the Foundation—our future—is only 10 percent," he said. "We hope all our members will consider joining them, to serve the patients who continue to look to us to provide care and encouragement and hope," he said.
