R&E Foundation Seeks to Expand Power of Grants

Recent changes made by the RSNA Research & Education (R&E) Foundation are designed to expand the power of the Foundation's research and education grants to jump start the careers of radiology trainees and young faculty members.

Eric J. Stern, M.D. Chair, R&E Radiology Education Task Force

Brian C. Lentle, M.D. Chair, R&E International Task Force

Cyrus Raji 2007-2008 Research Medical Student Grant Recipient

Preliminary results of a survey of R&E grant recipients are a testimony to the power of the grants. "Working under the RSNA Research Resident Grant was a great experience, allowing both research experience and exposure to academic radiology," wrote one respondent. "Having this exposure as a resident was an important factor in making my decision to go into academic radiology."

Wrote another respondent: "Within the first few years of my career I was invited to give lectures in the field of musculoskeletal imaging—the same field funded by my RSNA Seed Grant—in seven countries."

More results of the R&E grant recipient survey will be released later this year.

Scope, Number of Grants Expanded

One big change made by the Foundation has been to extend the Education Scholar Grant to applicants outside North America. One international grant will be made possible each year by a special endowment donated in memory of international educator and RSNA Board member Derek Harwood-Nash, M.B., Ch.B., D.Sc.

Extending the scope of the Education Scholar Grant will give educators around the world the means to share their knowledge, said Brian C. Lentle, M.D., 2004 RSNA president and chair of the R&E International Task Force. "Talented educators and mentors in the international community will be inspired by the recognition and in becoming, in a tangible way, part of a worldwide community of scholars," he said.

Another change has been to increase the number of Research Medical Student Grants awarded annually from 20 to 25. With increased competition for the award, which provides $3,000 for 3-month research projects, the Board of Trustees has also installed a review panel of five members—representing diagnostic radiology, interventional radiology, radiation oncology and radiobiology, nuclear medicine and medical physics—to review applications.

Cyrus Raji, a 2007-2008 Research Medical Student Grant recipient, cited funding from the R&E Foundation as the springboard for his work investigating the role of arterial spin-labeled MR in diagnosing Alzheimer disease. The work was subsequently supported by the American Heart Association (AHA).

"Preliminary data from the work funded by RSNA was utilized for a pre-doctoral grant," said Raji, a student at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. "The AHA grant was awarded in the amount of $42,000 over two years. That success could not have occurred were it not for the opportunities, confidence and support afforded by the R&E Foundation. It has further solidified my conviction to do academic neuroradiology and, in the future, apply for additional RSNA and National Institutes of Health grants."

RSNA 2008 Scholar Session Open to All

A third change gives RSNA 2008 attendees the chance to see R&E Research Scholar Grants in action. The Scholar Advisor Program, a session during which research scholars present their goals and progress to a group of peers and mentors, will be opened to all meeting attendees this year. Opening the session not only gives attendees a glimpse into scholars' research endeavors but also encourages grant recipients to more fully demonstrate how the funding is fueling advances in radiology, said Richard L. Ehman, M.D., R&E Grant Program Committee chair.

"The process of obtaining a grant from the research scholar program is extremely competitive," said Dr. Ehman, who was named RSNA Outstanding Researcher in 2006 and in 1989 received one of the first research scholar grants awarded. "This session provides RSNA meeting attendees with an opportunity to see capsulated updates on cutting-edge research by the next generation of investigators in our field."

The Scholar Advisor Program session is scheduled for Tuesday, Dec. 2, from 10:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. in Room S103CD. Attendees will receive 1.5 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™.

Task Force Examines Trends in Radiology Education

While the number and quality of research grant applications has remained relatively stable over the years, leaders said education grants are underutilized, with applications this year hitting an all-time low. In an attempt to combat this trend, the R&E Board of Trustees appointed a task force of prominent leaders in radiology education.

The task force is part of RSNA's overall role in addressing radiology education, said chair Eric J. Stern, M.D., a professor of radiology and an adjunct professor of medicine and medical education and bioinformatics at the University of Washington.

"We will assess the R&E Foundation education grant programs and identify ways of improving awareness of these programs, to increase the number and quality of applications and awardees," said Dr. Stern. The task force findings and recommendations will be presented to the R&E Board of Trustees at their meeting this month.