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Academy Executive Committee Communication Dashboard2020-11-20T10:41:52-05:00

This page contains a series of briefs and links on various Academy work that Executive Director Renee Cruea has emailed to Academy Leadership throughout the year. The information compiled below is an effort to create an easily searchable database of messages sent to the Board of Directors and Executive Committee.

Academy Highlights  (Listed in reverse chronological order)

Q3-4 (2020)

  • November 13, 2020 – Academy Fall Newsletter sent out to our community.
  • October 15, 2020 – The Academy has announced its staff re-organization and the hiring of Senior Director of Government and Strategic Affairs, Michael Heintz.
  • September 18, Announcement for the 5thannual Academy Imaging Shark Tank to be held Monday, November 30th @ 3:30pm-4:30pm CT, as a session during the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA) virtual meeting.  The Academy is grateful for the support of the RSNA, a founding member society, enabling us to host this session virtually.  Please see attached, and feel free to share with your colleagues and friends.
    • While the Academy panel was able to choose only 3 nominees to pitch due to time constraints, we will be offering a separate virtual event (details TBD) to ensure all nominees are able to benefit from and connect with this expert panel.  Thank you for your patience as we work to create additional ways to embrace the growing popularity of this program and provide value to our academic investigators, the future of this field.
    • SESSION CODE: SPSI21
    • You must be registered for the meeting to attend this session.
  • September – Academy Virtual Events & Meetings at RSNA 2020 announced, Executive Committee Members are invited to attend all Academy events.
  • August – The Academy has successfully sent out all Academy Invoices.
  • June 23, 2020 – Today the Academy had a  conversation with Dr. Bruce Tromberg, and NIBIB staff regarding their current efforts utilizing the emergency influx for COVID-19 research, the transformation of the Institute to meet the challenge and the resources needed now and beyond the current funding availability. Renee was joined on the call by Academy Officers, Dr. Etta Pisano and Dr. Ruth Carlos, as well as the Academy staff.  Here is a summary of the conversation and our steps with the Institute.

    • The purpose of the call was to identify any gaps in funding for NIBIB to continue current efforts, so that the Academy can work to ensure that Congress is aware and can consider emergency funding to address those needs.

      The potential to have a budget seems to be shrinking and the likelihood of a continuing resolution (CR) into next FY and through the election seems more and more likely. What this means is that the only path with potential to secure additional NIH funding for an institute will be through emergency COVID 19 related funding.  We would like to ensure we are aware of the gaps so that we can advocate for exactly that.  What we do not want, is for NIBIB to have to utilize their base funding for this research, which would endanger current grant efforts not related to COVID.

    • When Congress funded NIBIB with $560 million for COVID-19 research to speed development of national testing capabilities, NIBIB created a division that addressed these needs at warped speed,  enlisted 40 staff from other ICs and over 200 people to collaborate nationwide.  They have issued several notices of special interest and created Rapid Acceleration of Diagnostics (RADx), utilizing their POCTRN network.  Since April 28th, RADx has received 2300 applications, with 550 of those completed and into Phase 0 (the “Shark Tank”), 18 companies have reached Phase 1.  This level of accelerated collaboration is really amazing, and we want to highlight this to ensure that on the other side of this, NIBIB’s value for leading these efforts are recognized.
    • On the medical imaging front, NIBIB sees value in the demonstration project to build databases.  This effort has been coming together with collaboration among leadership from the RSNA, ACR, AAPM and the Academy. However, they will need funding for this effort in both the short and long term as this project looks to build databases.  Increasing the profile of this effort and the collaboration will also be important.
    • The Academy will focus our messaging on ensuring that Congress recognizes the need for these efforts within NIBIB to remain permanently (the division which houses RADx and the medical imaging demonstration project), and to be funded as such so that they will be ready to address the next pathogen/pandemic issue.  While NIBIB currently has resources to produce innovation quickly and effectively, they need the support to continue, maintain and expand this innovation funnel.
    • Renee also had a an offline conversation with Dr. Tromberg to ensure that we touch base if additional need and gaps come up so that we can ensure that we do our part to make everyone aware. Academy staff will be developing a one-pager, with NIBIB’s input, that captures their warped speed scientific efforts with this emergency supplemental funding, which we will then utilize in our advocacy efforts on their behalf, hopefully securing awareness, resources and the recognition this institute deserves.
      • Any questions on this effort should be directed to Renee Cruea, rcruea@acadrad.org.

Q2 (2020)

  • As the Academy continues to look forward to MedTech 11 in the Spring of 2021, below are some updates on how that event is shaping up.
    • The Academy Executive Committee (EC) will meet virtually on Friday April 24th at 8:30am. There will not be a full Academy Board meeting this spring.  The Academy Board will next meet during the annual RSNA meeting (tbd).
    • Our 2020 Advocacy events have been rescheduled for next June 2021. We were fortunate that the hotel block, our only financial obligation, is allowing us to apply the full amount to the events next year. Leadership chose the date below, as it will hopefully be outside of a potential second wave of Covid19 and we hope less chance of needing to be cancelled again.
  • Academy Spring Advocacy Events & 11th Annual Medical Imaging Technology Showcase
    • Sunday June 20th through Tuesday June 22, 2021
    • If your department or society nominated one of the 35 members to our Council of Early Career Investigators in Imaging (CECI2), please review the attached document.
      • The 2020 class will participate in all events in 2021. We are taking advantage of this time to create new materials and improve our meetings at NIH, on Capitol Hill and the Showcase itself. This has turned into an opportunity to engage this new class and all CECI2 members for a full year ahead of our events. The feedback I am receiving from our CECI2 members, is that the Academy program is the most impactful program of events they have ever had the opportunity to participate in, from networking to continued valuable professional connections at NIH and a clear understanding of how policy impacts research through direct experience on Capitol Hill. We will continue to build and expand this program with your support.
  • A new class will not be chosen for 2021, enabling us to provide personal service and attention to each of the 35 new members.

**Academy staff are working remotely, and holding meetings with Capitol Hill virtually. Advocating strongly for continued investment at NIH.  We are all healthy, still sane and we hope the same for all of you. Thank you for your support and for all that you are doing.**

  • For your information, we have circulated the final House and Senate FY 2021 NIH “Dear Colleague” letters in support of NIH funding for 2021. Academy staff has been and will continue to seek strong support from every Congressional office we “virtually” meet with. While the in person meetings are on hold for a time, we are still advocating and meeting virtually.
    • The Senate letter led by Sens. Casey (D-Pa.) and Burr (R-N.C.) urged appropriators to maintain “a strong commitment to funding for the NIH” in FY 2021. The letter has 64 signatures, including 20 Republicans, 2 Independents, and 42 Democrats.
    • The House letter led by Reps. Davis (D-Calif.), Carson (D-Ind.), King (R-N.Y.), and McKinley (R-W.Va.) urged appropriators to include a program level of “at least $44.7 billion” for NIH in FY 2021. The letter has 234 signatures, including 41 Republicans and 193 Democrats.

**Thank you for your support of our advocacy efforts on behalf of medical imaging research, and NIH as a whole.**

  • As you know, we have cancelled the Academy spring events/meetings and Showcase. While very distressing for us and our early career investigators, I do have some positive news and a request for you each to help in choosing a date for 2021 this week.
    • The financial impact on the Academy with the cancellation is limited to our hotel contract with Sofitel in the amount of $79,000. This is significant with our budget of 1.3M and not having the RSNA Foundation as a full member starting next year.
    • However, the hotel has offered to apply the entire $79,000 to our event in 2021, if we could secure a date within the next week.
    • The dates which will work and a link to a poll are listed below and I ask you all to help us identify the best date for you and for the investigators who will attend. We avoided ARRS, AUR, Easter and Passover. One date coincides with the ACR meeting, which we have done in the past with no issues and may be a good option.
      • We are also keeping this current class of CECI for next year, and are working on ways to begin engaging them all virtually over the nest year. I will send you a plan for that soon. This situation creates tremendous opportunity for us to re-build and improve all of our CECI programs with their input over the next 12 months. They in turn are all excited to be able to participate in this new way.
    • Options for Academy Spring Events 2021 – *All investigators arrive Sunday evening, NIH day is Monday, Academy Congressional visits, Research Roundtable and Showcase are all held on Tuesday*

Q1 (2020)

  • The Academy for Radiology & Biomedical Imaging Research (the Academy) is proud to announce 34 new members to our Council of Early Career Investigators in Imaging.  Sponsorship comes from a combination of the Academy, Academic Departments and Imaging Societies.  We look forward to hosting our new class in Washington DC this Spring where they will attend and participate in multiple advocacy events, NIH meetings with leadership/program staff and our 11th Annual Medical Imaging Technology Showcase.
  • Nominations for the Academy Council of Distinguished Investigators (DIs) are now being accepted. The nomination worksheet is attached to this e-mail and a description of the award is here: http://www.acadrad.org/award-description/.
    • Nomination Deadline: March 31, 2020, 5 PM EST. Please return your nominations to Emily Townley, etownley@acadrad.org.

      • Please only submit nominations if they meet the eligibility criteria for demonstrated accomplishment as an independent investigator with a substantial ongoing research program. Only list major peer-reviewed grants (e.g., R01s, R21s, etc.) from established competitive funding sources such as the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the National Science Foundation (NSF), and the Department of Defense (DoD). The nominee must be the Principal Investigator of record (the recipient of the indirect costs) on those grants.

      • Do not list industry grants or internal institutional grants. Foundation grants may be listed if they are not new investigator awards and if they are similar in funding level and competitiveness to major NIH grants.

      • The eligibility criteria for this award includes the completion of at least 6 cumulative years of funding as a Principal Investigator (PI). This requirement must be achieved as of the closing date of nominations (March 31, 2020). Please do not include anticipated service as a PI extending beyond that date, as this does not meet the eligibility criteria.

      • Save this form with the name of the nominee and the date and send it to etownley@acadrad.org<mailto:etownley@acadrad.org> along with the following attachments:

          • PDF copy of NIH-style biosketch. This biosketch should be no longer than five pages.

          • PDF copies of the 3 key papers referenced in the narrative. Please save these articles with the name of the nominee and the title of the article.

  • The president’s FY 2021 budget has been released: https://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/budget/. The President’s proposal is to cut funding for the NIH by $3 billion, more than 7.2 percent below current levels.  Clearly this would negatively impact innovative medical imaging research at each of the 7 institutes with large imaging portfolios.  Thank you to the 25 imaging societies who signed this letter in support of an increase to NIH: https://www.aamc.org/research/adhocgp/FY2021%20Recommendation.pdf. **Please share this letter with your membership and stay tuned for ways to engage and advocate with the Academy!**
    • The president’s budget request is now live on the OMB website. Text about the proposals for the Department of Health and Human Services are on pages 49 – 54, including the paragraph below regarding NIH:Prioritizes Critical Health Research and Supports Innovation. The Budget provides $38 billion for innovative research at NIH to improve public health, $4 billion above the level requested in the 2020 Budget. NIH would continue to address the opioid epidemic and emerging stimulants, make progress on developing a universal flu vaccine, prioritize vector-borne disease research, and support industries of the future. The Budget funds the second year of the Childhood Cancer Data Initiative to further America’s understanding of the unique causes of, and the best cures for, childhood cancer.
    • The NIH also released it’s FY 2021 Congressional Justification with details for each Institute and Center.
  • Don’t forget to SAVE THE DATE for MedTech 2020! For more information, updates and a full itinerary of events please check out the Executive Committee Materials page, under Board Member resources. This year’s showcase and spring events will take place from Sunday May 3rd – Tuesday May 5th, 2020, capping off with this year 11th Annual Medical Imaging Technology Showcase in the Rayburn House Office Building on Capitol Hill.
    • Please also reserve your hotel room ASAP, this year the event hotel is the Sofitel Lafayette Square, Washington, DC. You can make your reservations HERE: https://bit.ly/38lmP9l 
  • Academy Executive Committee was asked to review the CONFIDENTIAL Cures 2.0 legislation language to create an imaging data repository with NEW money under the direction of NIBIB to Congress.  This opportunity has arisen through Reps Upton (R-MI) & DeGette (D-CO), original creators of CURES, who are seeking to craft a CURES 2.0 bill and have asked for proposed legislative language was submitted on  Monday, Dec. 16th.   While it is hard to predict at this time, we do believe that CURES 2.0 could be a legislative vehicle for our DxCP concepts if we are able to get our language accepted into the bill.  The draft language you all received is designed around the concepts recently discussed  The language would authorize the NIBIB to award competitive grants a third party entity or entities to receive, store, and transmit anonymized imaging data sets for the purpose of diagnostic cockpit development, in partnership with public and private entities. Dr. Schnall is on board, but we would like to ensure we have your support and address any concerns you may have. To receive this information again please contact Casey Cappelletti, ccappelletti@acadrad.org.

Q4

Q3

Q2

Q1 (2019)

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