An overview of the 2016 Medical Technology Showcase from Renée L. Cruea, MPA, President of the Coalition for Imaging and Bioengineering Research (CIBR), and Executive Director of the Academy of Radiology Research rcruea@acadrad.org.
Attendees at the Seventh Annual Showcase Event Witnessed an Unprecedented Display of Collaboration, Innovation, and Passion at the Largest Showcase Held to Date.
The Coalition for Imaging and Bioengineering Research (CIBR) held its seventh annual Medical Technology Showcase on Capitol Hill on April 12, 2016. CIBR members have come together annually since 2009 to host this event with the purpose of providing the opportunity to learn about a vast array of innovative imaging technologies from the perspective of the patient, researcher and manufacturer.
To accelerate the development of innovative technologies, it is essential to ensure those engaged in policy and funding decisions understand the technology, what we can do, what we should do, what we must do as a research community to continue to improve patient care. This event raises awareness, understanding, and creates an environment that we hope will sustain consistent federal investments into imaging research.
A view of the showcase in the Senate Kennedy Caucus Room, abuzz with excitement for driving support for new innovations in imaging.
This year, our collaborative event was held in the classically appointed Senate Kennedy Caucus Room. Each attendee had the opportunity to learn about innovative imaging technology by listening to patient keynotes, interacting with academic researchers and manufacturers as well as speaking to investigators about their research. The Kennedy room was flanked with several collaborative displays, each focused on an innovative imaging technology including, for example, 3D printed livers that attendees could handle; scientific imaging research posters from more than 18 academic institutions across the country covering subjects such as cardiac, lung, brain, and cancer imaging; the ability for attendees to explore a new patient app created by the National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering (NIBIB); and iPads with videos presented by the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology, (ARVO).
Connecting Early Career Investigators with Colleagues at the National Institutes of Health (NIH)
Sixteen scientific investigators from Academy member academic institutions attended meetings at the National Institutes of Health to include the NIBIB, the National Cancer Institute (NCI), and the NIH Clinical Center. This unique opportunity is afforded to these researchers as a result of selection by their peers among the Council of Early Career Investigators in Imaging (CECI2), and supported by the Academy of Radiology Research Academic Council (ARRAC).
“Attending the CIBR event for the first time, I was struck by how important advocacy efforts are and their influence on imaging research. The meeting gave a real ‘insider’ look into how the NIH and Congress operate and how we can encourage support for our passion to improve biomedical imaging. I thought the event was a great success, in large part because of all the wonderful people involved, ranging from Radiology department residents, to chairs, researchers, patients and patient advocates, and NIH and industry leaders!“
-2016 CECI2 Travel Awardee, Manu S. Goyal, M.D.,M.Sc. Assistant Professor in Neuroradiology
Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology
Washington University School of Medicine
St. Louis, Missouri
The Academy Council of Early Career Investigators in Imaging, CIBR and Academy leadership, with Roderic I. Pettigrew PhD, MD, Director of the NIBIB. Travel awardees are also inducted into the Council of Early Career Investigators in Imaging.
CIBR Members Take our Message to the “Hill”
CIBR members visited more than 65 Congressional offices to meet with their Members and congressional staff. The key messages for Congressional meetings included local research in the pipeline, economic impact of imaging in their district, the important role that imaging will play within the Cancer Moonshot, the Brain initiative and in Precision Medicine. Several investigators displayed their research poster in their Member’s office the week leading up to the event.
Dr. Jadranka Stojanovska posing with her University of Michigan Research poster and Representative Debbie Dingell.
Attendance at the Showcase Continues to Grow
Attendance continues to grow with an overall attendance of over 300 attendees learning how imaging assists in the detection, diagnosis, and treatment of diseases like kidney cancer, lung cancer, traumatic brain injury, spina bifida, cerebral palsy, liver tumors, and brain tumors.
“3D Printing for Surgical Planning and Virtual Reality” was one of the 10 collaborative booths, including representatives from Fuji Medical, Brigham & Women’s Hospital, and Yes! Beat Liver Tumors.
Presenting the Patient’s Perspective and Passion for Imaging
The importance of imaging research to patient care was also emphasized by the event’s four passionate keynote speakers each of whom articulated how imaging has impacted their diagnosis or care by illustrating very personal stories.
Blakely Murphy, a collegiate volleyball player and the first patient in the world to have both a traditional craniotomy and a less invasive second surgery utilizing imaging to remove a brain tumor in the same section of her brain 2 years later.
Cindy Parlow Cone, a US Olympic soccer player and winner of 2 gold medals and a world championship, who had her successful professional career cut short at 24 after suffering from post-concussion syndrome.
Barbara Cole, a national spokeswoman and Early-Stage Advisor for the Alzheimer’s Association who is learning to cope and live with early onset Alzheimer’s in addition to the adoption of many homeless animals.
Beth Calabotta, a scientist in the biotechnology field and a wife who has two dogs and is facing the challenges of being a metastatic breast cancer patient.
From left, Beth Calabotta, Blakely Murphy, CIBR President Renee Cruea, Barbara Cole, and Cindy Cone
Senator Chuck Grassley alongside Mary Jo Godwin (L), and Beth Calabotta (R), during their visit to Capitol Hill.
Strength, Passion, Diversity
CIBR’s advocacy and educational initiatives on Capitol Hill and at the NIH are successful in large part because of the strength, passion and diversity of our membership, and our annual Showcase is a wonderful opportunity to bring everyone together to illustrate the value of imaging to ensure federal support for imaging research.
It’s not too soon to begin planning for MedTech17!
Maybe you are interested in getting involved in advocacy for imaging research, or possibly you would like to participate with partner organizations in a collaborative booth display, or you are aware of a patient speaker who would be an outstanding candidate for speaking at our next Showcase. Just reach out to Sean Abell, our Senior Director of Communications and Membership at sabell@acadrad.org and follow us on twitter @CIBR_News.
As always, thank you for your continued support of CIBR and the Academy of Radiology Research.
Renée L. Cruea, MPA,
President, Coalition for Imaging and Bioengineering Research
Executive Director, Academy of Radiology Research rcruea@acadrad.org
