Imaging Research and the Reorganization of the NIH Center for Scientific Review

Abstract

The past several years have been marked by unprecedented growth for radiology and imaging science at the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Steady expansion of the Biomedical Imaging Program under the leadership of Daniel C. Sullivan, MD, at the National Cancer Institute; establishment of the National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering (NIBIB) and the selection of Roderic I. Pettigrew, MD, PhD, of the Emory University Department of Radiology as its first permanent director; and the presidential appointment of Elias A. Zerhouni, MD, as director of the NIH have combined to focus attention on imaging, to increase the opportunities for investigators in imaging science, and to improve the likelihood of future growth. The expected transfer of a substantial amount of additional, existing imaging and bioengineering grants from other institutes to NIBIB in fiscal year 2003 provides further evidence of this favorable trend for imaging. At the same time, obstacles remain to the development of imaging science into full partnership among the scientific disciplines at the NIH. The system for reviewing research proposals and identifying those that are worthy of funding by NIH institutes and centers potentially is one such obstacle.