RSNA R&E Foundation Allocates $4.5 Million for 2026 Medical Imaging Research

The Radiological Society of North America's (RSNA) Research & Education (R&E) Foundation has announced significant financial backing for 79 new research initiatives in medical imaging and radiation oncology. With over $4.5 million distributed, these grants exhibit a commitment to advancing the field through crucial support for investigators and educators globally.

Pamela K. Woodard, MD, chair of the R&E Foundation Board of Trustees, affirmed the Foundation's ongoing dedication to enhancing radiology. As she noted, "The R&E Foundation continues to build on our mission of furthering the field of radiology through funding the researchers that advance science and patient care."

This year's funded projects are distinctive in their diverse focus areas, which include improving patient care in cancer, cardiovascular diseases, neurological conditions, and more. They seek to make imaging processes more precise and beneficial for clinicians faced with complex diagnoses and treatment decisions.

Pioneering Research in Oncologic Imaging

Among the recipients, Yashbir Singh, PhD, from Mayo Clinic, received a Research Scholar Grant aimed at advancing early detection and individualized treatments for perihilar cholangiocarcinoma (pCCA) using advanced imaging and deep learning technologies. This cancer, occurring in the bile ducts outside the liver, presents formidable diagnostic challenges, which Dr. Singh is working to address.

Further, Ruoqi Gao, MD, PhD, a Research Fellow Grant recipient at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, is focused on tumor immunotherapy innovations, specifically reprogramming immune cells to better counter aggressive brain tumors.

Breakthroughs in Diagnostic Techniques

Emerging technologies also feature prominently in the list of funded projects. Faezeh Sodagari, MD, is breaking new ground with a fast MRI technique designed to detect breast cancer in a rapid 5-minute scan. Simultaneously, Nicholas Fong of the University of California, Davis School of Medicine, is leveraging cardiac CT angiography and environmental studies to relate pollution and socioeconomic factors to heart disease progression.

Arman Sharbatdaran, MD, is exploring whole-body MRI to evaluate the impact of GLP-1 weight loss therapies on body fat and muscle composition—a critical area for long-term patient health management.

Expanding Global Opportunities

For the first time, an R&E Foundation-funded project extends to Argentina, where Hernan Chaves, MD, of Fleni Belgrano in Buenos Aires is developing an AI-assisted training simulator for radiologists. This initiative exemplifies the Foundation's efforts to extend educational resources and foster medical innovation worldwide.

Since its founding in 1984, the RSNA R&E Foundation has sustained more than $92 million in grants aimed at nurturing scientific exploration and educational advancements in medical imaging. These grants are instrumental in driving forward the frontiers of technology and patient care in radiology.

Applications for the 2027 R&E Foundation grants are anticipated to open in October, inviting more groundbreaking projects to emerge in the field of radiological research.