Emerging Issues grant
RSNA's R&E Foundation is invested in ensuring that the current and next generation of radiologists are able to meet the needs of the continuously evolving profession and help achieve equitable care for all.
The Emerging Issues grant was developed to rapidly and effectively address urgent issues that threaten the health and well-being of disparate populations.
Applications open
A new round of funding opportunities is now available! Learn more about each opportunity below and apply by March 22, 2024.
Research topics
The 2024–2025 Emerging Issues grant will provide support for research related to the environmental impact/sustainability of radiology and value based radiology and its impact on patient care in today's resource constrained health care environment.
Explore the details of each opportunity below.
Environmental Impact and Sustainability of Radiology
This funding opportunity supports research to address radiology's environmental impact and the critical intersection of sustainability, imaging value and the future of radiology.
As the health care industry strives to minimize its environmental impact, radiology departments need to understand their current carbon footprint in order to prioritize strategies to reduce environmental impact while maintaining clinical impact on patient care.
This funding opportunity will stimulate research that explores strategies for optimizing imaging value in a sustainable future.
Research objectives and scope
Objectives
Specific objectives include:
- Assessing current state environmental impact of radiology
- Raising awareness of sustainability issues among radiologists and health care providers
- Developing strategies to reduce the environmental impact of radiology practices
Scope
Research proposals should address one or more of the following areas:
- Energy efficiency: Develop innovative methods to reduce energy consumption in radiology practices, such as optimizing imaging protocols and utilizing energy-efficient equipment.
- Waste reduction: Implement strategies to minimize waste (e.g., supplies, equipment and medications) from diagnostic imaging and interventional radiology procedures, including increased use of reusable equipment and promotion of recycling programs.
- Imaging appropriateness: Establish measures that link sustainability and environmental impact to guidelines and decision support tools that promote value-driven imaging.
- Eco-friendly imaging techniques: Explore the use of imaging techniques modalities and/or utilization to address radiology’s environmental footprint.
- Equitable patient access: Addressing equitable patient access to radiology services with minimal environmental impact.
By promoting sustainable practices in radiology, we can address the significant impact of health care on the climate, reduce our environmental impact, conserve resources and protect human health.
Selection criteria
Applications will be reviewed on the following criteria:
- Innovation
- Expected impact of the intervention on the investigators’ institution(s), patient population(s) and on the general public
- Knowledge of and experience within the specific topic
- Investigators with affiliation or demonstrated collaborative efforts with community partners
- Well-defined and researched needs assessment that articulates current gaps
- Metric-based outcomes analyses that demonstrate achievement of objectives
- Scalability/expandability
- Content monitoring, update strategy and sustainability
- Timeline and milestones to completion (will be used to determine if subsequent funding is merited)
Eligibility
Applicants (principal investigators) of all levels are welcome to apply, including residents and private practice members. Applicants must be an RSNA member the time of application and throughout the duration of the award. If the applicant is a non-dues paying member, one or more of the co-investigators must be a dues-paying member.
Other investigators may include co-PIs from the same or other institutions, individuals outside of radiology, community partners and other professionals as needed.
Budget and award period
Application budgets with direct costs of up to $100,000 will be considered.
Grants of one year will be awarded. Funding for a subsequent year will be dependent upon successful completion of specific project milestones.
Application process and requirements
All applicants must provide a summary of long-term project goals and a detailed research plan.
Value Based Radiology
This funding opportunity supports research to quantify and increase the value of radiology in patient care—including improvements in radiology operational efficiencies (e.g., improve equipment utilization, exam acquisition time, worklist prioritization and interpretation time).
Radiology departments are facing increasing workloads and other pressures to improve productivity while maintaining/increasing quality. Given workforce personnel shortages and other scarcity of resources, improvement in operational workflow has never been more important for radiology. Efficient use of our resources to produce high-quality imaging at a high volume is paramount.
The purpose of this grant is to encourage applicants to define metrics of radiology value and create innovative solutions to improve efficiencies in radiology.
Research objectives and scope
Applications can address improving any aspect of the radiology value chain, from exam ordering through exam performance, interpretation and communication of results.
Principles of implementation science may be applicable.
Potential topics include, but are not limited to:
- Improving efficiencies in ordering and scheduling of examinations
- Improving utilization of imaging equipment
- Improving efficiency in interpretation of imaging and communication of actionable results
Applications should include well-defined aims and metrics and may employ key-driver diagrams and demonstration of progress-to-goal using run charts.
Selection criteria
Applications will be reviewed on the following:
- Innovation
- Expected impact of the intervention on the investigators’ institution(s), radiology operations, patient population(s) and on the general public
- Knowledge of and experience within the specific topic
- Investigators with affiliation or demonstrated collaborative efforts with community partners
- Well-defined and researched needs assessment that articulates current gaps
- Metric-based outcomes analyses that demonstrate achievement of objectives
- Scalability/expandability
- Content monitoring, update strategy and sustainability
- Timeline and milestones to completion (will be used to determine if subsequent funding is merited)
Eligibility
Applicants (principal investigator) of all levels are welcome to apply, including residents and private practice members. Applicants must be an RSNA member the time of application and throughout the duration of the award. If the applicant is a non-dues paying member, one or more of the co-investigators must be a dues-paying member.
Other investigators may include co-PIs from the same or other institutions, individuals outside of radiology, community partners and other professionals as needed.
Budget and award period
Application budgets with direct costs of up to $100,000 will be considered.
Grants of one year will be awarded. Funding for a subsequent year will be dependent upon successful completion of specific project milestones.
Application process and requirements
All applicants must provide a summary of long-term project goals and a detailed research plan.
Contact us
For questions, email Keshia Osley at grants@rsna.org.