The Radiological Society of North America (RSNA) Research & Education (R&E) Foundation has awarded its 2018 Canon Medical Systems USA/RSNA Research Seed Grants to Pedram Heidari, MD, Prashant Nagpal, MD, and Adam Singer, MD, and the 2018 Canon Medical Systems USA Research Medical Student Grants to Brandon Kenneth-Kouso Fields, BA, BM, and Anthony D. Yao, BS. These grants are made possible by Canon Medical Systems USA’s support of the RSNA R&E Foundation.

The Canon Medical Systems USA/RSNA Research Seed Grant provides $40,000 for a one-year project to test hypotheses and obtain pilot data in preparation for major grant applications.

  • Pedram Heidari, MD, Massachusetts General Hospital, will investigate a novel PET probe for imaging of disease activity in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in mouse models. This PET probe is specific for granzyme B which is an important marker of T cell activation involved in pathogenies of IBD. Clinical translation of this imaging method, if successful, could potentially improve management and treatment of IBD.
  • Prashant Nagpal, MD, University of Iowa, with scientific advisor Mathews Jacob, PhD, will investigate whether 3D self-navigated free-breathing cardiac MRI (CMR) sequences using manifold reconstruction algorithms compare well with the standard of care breath-held CMR sequences for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). If successful, this free-breathing CMR technique will allow high-quality comprehensive imaging in patients that cannot hold their breath.
  • Adam Singer, M.D., Emory University, will compare the performance of a novel sonographic scoring and reporting system to MRI for soft tissue sarcoma resection bed surveillance. If sonographic diagnostic accuracy is non-inferior to MRI, it could provide a more cost effective surveillance alternative particularly when MRI is contraindicated or degraded by artifacts.

The Canon Medical Systems USA/RSNA Research Medical Student Grant provides a $3,000 stipend, matched by the department for a total of $6,000 to pursue a research project in the radiologic sciences.