About the Council

Established in 2012, the Council of Distinguished Investigators recognizes and celebrates the highest levels of achievement in imaging research. It’s designed to honor and encourage those who have achieved excellence in scientific research while still being involved in clinical care, though not limited to clinician scientists.

Members of the Council also receive ongoing updates on funding opportunities and research-related legislative policy.

This opportunity and corresponding award/recognition is open to all researchers whose institutions (i.e., academic departments, industry partners, societies) are members of the Academy. This includes radiologists, other physicians whose clinical focus is imaging, and medical imaging scientists. The award recognizes accomplishment, not just qualifications.

The award is presented at a ceremony held during the annual RSNA meeting. Recipients of the award will become members of the Council of Distinguished Investigators of the Academy.

Meet your Council Co-Chairs!

Council Co-Chairs —Elizabeth A. Krupinski, PhD, and Vivek Yedavalli, MD, MS, represent the Council on the Academy Board of Directors. The Co-Chairs review all nominee submissions to ensure they meet the criteria established.

Who Can Nominate?

Candidates must be nominated by an Academy member department, society, or company.

Nominations can be submitted by one of the following:

• A Chair, Vice-Chair, or Research Chair of a member academic department.
• An Executive Director or CEO of a member society.
• An Academy industry representative.

Nomination forms are sent directly to these individuals when nominations open. Other formats, such as a written letter, will not be accepted.

There is no limit on the number of individuals that an Academy member institution may nominate. Submission deadlines are announced annually.

Eligibility Criteria:

• Primary professional appointment in an Academic Department of Radiology that is a member of the Academy’s Academic Council (ARRAC) or affiliated with an Academy Member Society.
• MDs, DOs, PhDs and/or equivalents are eligible.
• Academic rank of at least Associate Professor or its industry/society equivalent.
• Sustained productivity, including at least 25 peer-reviewed scientific research publications in which they are first author or senior author.
• Demonstrated accomplishment as an Independent Investigator with a substantial ongoing research program (as of Sunday, August 31, 2026) the nominee should have completed (not in progress) at least 6 years (i.e., starting no later than August 31, 2020) of funding as the Principal Investigator of major competitive extramural research grants. Please do not include anticipated service as PI extending beyond August 31, 2026, as this does not meet the eligibility criteria.
  
• Example A: nomination year = 2022 with grant #1 start/end dates 1/1/2015 – 12/31/2017, grant #2 6/1/16 – 5/30/2018, grant #3 1/1/17 – 12/31/2021; thus 2015-2021 funding = at least 6 cumulative completed years = qualified
• Example B: nomination year = 2022 with grant #1 start/end dates 1/1/2020 – 12/31/2024, grant #2 6/1/2021 – 5/30/2025, grant #3 6/1/2022 – 5/30/2026 ≠ 6 cumulative completed years = does not qualify

For those engaged in team science

• In the nomination letter please describe the unique contributions the candidate has made to the team science efforts
• Sustained productivity, including at least 25 peer-reviewed scientific research publications in which there is a sustained focus area of the research.
• Demonstrated accomplishment as a team science investigator in a substantial ongoing research program. The nominee should have completed at least 6 cumulative years (see examples above) of funding at the minimum level of co-Investigator on major competitive extramural research grants.

Be sure to read the information and instructions in the nomination form carefully.