R&E Raises $17.5 Million to Fund Radiology’s Future

The entire radiology community rose to the challenge and reached the $17.5 million goal to fund RSNA Research & Education (R&E) Foundation grants for radiology researchers and educators.

The Foundation launched Inspire-Innovate-Invest: The Campaign for Funding Radiology’s Future® in 2013 with the ambitious goal of raising $17.5 million. The effort was led by Campaign co-chairs R. Nick Bryan, MD, PhD, David C. Levin, MD, and the late William G. Bradley, Jr., MD, PhD. The co-chairs worked tirelessly to promote the Campaign and demonstrate the value of giving to the Foundation. In fact, past grant recipients report that for every dollar awarded by the Foundation they have earned an average $50 more from other sources, including the National Institutes of Health.

Platinum Centennial Pathfinder Phan T. Huynh, MD, was an early and staunch supporter. As chair of the R&E Fund Development Committee, Dr. Huynh proudly champions the Foundation’s mission throughout the radiology community. “I feel so much gratitude to be in our amazing profession and I feel I owe it to my mentors who shaped my career to give back,” he said.

Campaign donors who have made multi-year commitments represent every area of radiology, including 65 Centennial Pathfinders who made personal donations, generous private practice groups and corporate supporters. Campaign donors were bound by a common thread — the understanding that radiology research performed by radiologists is the most important way radiologists can support the future of the specialty.

“Our practice, as well as private practice groups across the country, are beneficiaries of research and education in the form of the future development of cutting-edge radiology techniques, interventions and technologies,” said Brian D. Petersen, MD, of Inland Imaging, Professional Services. “Our contribution to the Inspire-Innovate-Invest Campaign was the most direct way we could show our support for this process.” The practice made a 10-year commitment toward the Campaign.

The Campaign’s impact is already evident. Since the launch, the Foundation has provided $15 million to 340 innovators in radiology research and education. Moreover, the Foundation’s grant program has helped many young radiologists pursue careers in research, helping to maintain the intellectual leadership in imaging and image-guided therapies, earn the respect in the medical community and improve patient care, said N. Reed Dunnick, MD, Board of Trustees chairman.

For example, Robert R. Flavell, MD, PhD, received a 2015 RSNA Research Fellow Grant, and his work has led to the development of multiple new positron emission tomography and hyperpolarized 13C MRI tracers for imaging the tumor microenvironment. “This initial funding helped propel me into my first academic position and helped greatly in writing several papers, obtaining extramural funding and starting my own laboratory,” Dr. Flavell said.

Past R&E grant recipient Colin P. Derdeyn, MD, chair and departmental executive officer of the Department of Radiology at the University of Iowa, committed to the Campaign as a Silver Centennial Pathfinder. “Receiving the Siemens Medical Solutions/RSNA Research Fellow Grant 23 years ago had a profound impact on my career. It opened up a lot of opportunities,” Dr. Derdeyn said. “I’m grateful to be in a position to give back.”

With the support of these and many more Campaign donors the Foundation will continue to lead in funding radiology research and education well into the future.

“On behalf of the Foundation Board of Trustees, thank you to all of our donors for your investment in advancing the field of radiology through your support of innovative research and education projects,” Dr. Dunnick said.

If you are inspired and would like to learn more about Funding Radiology’s Future, contact Liten DeNaut, assistant director, fund development, at 630-368-3744 or ldenaut@rsna.org.