Research involving radiology is being conducted in almost every field of medicine, and IU School of Medicine faculty and students are deeply involved with the work to improve clinical diagnostics and patient care. Within the department, most radiology faculty members are deeply involved in research projects. The focus of their work includes diagnosis of pulmonary emboli with computed tomography; FDA IDE trials, clinical trials and animal studies; data analysis and research with the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute as well as the Agency for Health Care Policy and Research; and development of workflow software to improve reporting turnaround and quality.
Research in the field of radiology and imaging sciences has generated critical technologies, including magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), computed tomography (CT), and nuclear medicine as well as honed modern techniques for using equipment to identify abnormalities and disease to be treated. Today’s research is seeking discoveries to contribute to advances in the treatment of diseases such as cancer and Alzheimer’s disease. Faculty of the Department of Radiology and Imaging Sciences and the Imaging Sciences Division are taking a proactive role in the advancement of new medical technology that will provide novel methodologies for the detection and treatment of human disease. These new technologies will eventually displace or minimize the need for conventional anatomically based imaging procedures.
Specifically, the Imaging Sciences Division works to develop imaging techniques to noninvasively characterize human physiology and its disruption by disease; to provide infrastructure support to implement and maintain state-of-the-art technology employed in the practice of radiology; and the dissemination of knowledge to students, faculty, scientific community and the public.
Many more specially funded programs center on cooperative efforts between IU School of Medicine and segments of the private industry. The School of Medicine annually receives more than $110 million in grants from national organizations and government agencies to conduct research projects.
Strong Research Support
IU School of Medicine offers an ideal environment for medical research that leads to major advancements in medicine. With a strong tradition of achievement, expertise of faculty, state-of-the art equipment and facilities, and access to a large and diverse patient population with complex conditions, the working and learning environment at IU School of Medicine inspires innovative diagnostic and therapeutic techniques.
Imaging Sciences
Innovation in Imaging Sciences drives optimal patient care. It is our mission to develop and translate novel imaging technologies to addresses unmet patient needs. The vision of National and Institutional (IU School of Medicine and IU Health) Precision Health/Medicine initiatives is to revolutionize patient care by applying treatments that are optimized for specific characteristics of the patient, taking into consideration genetics, environment, and lifestyle. A central feature of our research activities is in alignment with the goals of Precision Health/Medicine and broad base of research within the IU School of Medicine. We are positioned to play a major role in the transformation of patient care through innovative new technologies that move beyond detection to non-invasive evaluation of disease.