Key Points
- The Academy organized 16 societies across the medical imaging community for a day of education and advocacy on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC.
- A separate roundtable event addressed two key topics for advancing imaging research.
On March 23–25, the Academy for Radiology & Biomedical Imaging Research hosted a series of spring advocacy events in Washington, DC. The week began with a networking reception on Monday evening followed by a full day and evening of Capitol Hill events on Tuesday. An invite-only Research Roundtable Discussion was then held on Wednesday.
The Academy is a non-profit organization committed to advancing research in medical imaging by advocating for consistent federal investment for medical imaging research.
For the March 24 “Future of Health: Medical Imaging Research Hill Day,” the Academy organized 16 societies across the medical imaging community for a day of education and advocacy. A total of 55 advocates from 35 universities, 24 states, and 7 companies conducted more than 110 Congressional office visits.
“Each participant chose from several issues of importance to them and their institution, ranging from overall NIH funding, the role of facilities and administrative costs, their personal research interests and goals, the impact of imaging technology on patient care and the vital collaborative role of industry partnership,” says the Academy’s website.
On the evening of March 24, the Congressional Medical Imaging Technology Showcase (#MedTech26) presented hands-on, interactive, and informative examples of research efforts to policymakers, representatives from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and the Research Roundtable attendees. This session allowed exhibitors to demonstrate the value of NIH research funding by showcasing the latest nationwide imaging research and technology. Two keynote speakers also shared personal patient stories.
March 25 was the day for the Research Roundtable Discussion, which was held at the national headquarters of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) in Washington, DC. The event included approximately 100 imaging and pathology researchers – from early career investigators to department chairs – along with industry and federal agency representatives. The purpose of the roundtable was to discuss and advance two key topics:
- Leveraging a Collaborative, Strategic Approach to Prepare for Artificial Intelligence (AI)–Driven Advances in Imaging Research
- Strengthening the AI Pipeline: Supporting Individuals at Every Stage
“The roundtable opened with remarks from National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering (NIBIB) Director Bruce Tromberg, PhD, who highlighted NIBIB’s broad, technology driven mission, its role within the NIH, and the centrality of imaging and bioengineering across NIH-supported research,” said Kevin Haworth, PhD, FAIUM, FASA, associate professor and biomedical ultrasonics and cavitation researcher at the University of Cincinnati, who attended the Research Roundtable. “The morning discussions centered on how academia, clinicians, industry, and federal agencies can prepare for rapidly advancing AI technologies in imaging. Afternoon sessions addressed the shrinking US STEM and imaging-research workforce, the impact of funding uncertainty, and growing pressures on trainees and clinician scientists.”
Dr. Haworth reported that the outcomes of the discussions included the need for sandbox environments for AI development, stronger academic–industry partnerships, clearer regulatory pathways beyond the US Food and Drug Administration, and improved training models such as industry-integrated doctoral (PhD) students. Attendees emphasized aligning training with industry needs, anticipating AI’s disruption of entry level technical roles, and prioritizing skills such as problem definition, creativity, and critical thinking. Participants explored strategies to strengthen the talent pipeline, foster interdisciplinary collaboration, retain researchers across career stages, and help departments balance protected research time with clinical demands.
See the Research Roundtable Discussion Agenda
See the ACADEMY’s Spring Meeting Website
The Foundation thanks Dr. Haworth, AIUM President David C. Jones, MD, FAIUM, professor of Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Sciences of the University of Vermont Medical Center, AIUM Chief Executive Officer Steven R. Meyer, PhD, and AIUM’s Chief Growth Officer Emily Mullen for submitting this report.