[MEDI Roster]

The Medical Imaging [MEDI] Scientific Review Group reviews proposals involving the application and validation of in vivo imaging of humans and animals, including early phase clinical studies of medical imaging systems, molecular probes and contrast agents, software, molecular imaging techniques, and related technologies.  The underlying technologies may be refined and optimized during testing in response to research questions or clinical needs.

Specific areas covered by MEDI:

• Evaluation of improvements in technologies underlying medical imaging systems.
  
  
• Studies of widely available medical imaging systems to evaluate novel medical applications.
  
  
• Pre-clinical, Phase-I, and -II clinical trials of medical imaging systems and accessories.
  
  
• Prediction, selection, and monitoring of therapeutic response based on imaging studies, with or without exogenous agents, using one or more modalities, especially for multi-temporal investigations to measure changes relative to a pretreatment baseline.
  
  
• Applications of imaging systems and modification of diagnostic methods for use in: screening; characterizing physiological effects, such as normal tissue tolerance or low-level radiation effects; and assessing risk.
  
  
• Image-guided interventions in integrated diagnostic and therapeutic systems.
  
  
• In vivo strategies and methods for characterizing tissue, and distinguishing between normal and pathologic states, based on estimates of biophysical, biomechanical, bioelectrical, biochemical, metabolic, perfusion/diffusion, or other properties determined locally or globally by imaging.
  
  
• Development of surrogate endpoints based on quantitative imaging for use in clinical trials of medical devices, pharmaceuticals, biologics and other therapeutic interventions.
  
  
• Incorporation of the results of imaging in medical decision making: modeling imaging systems and applications; application of medical imaging to various populations and throughout the phases of growth and development; use of imaging in outcome evaluation; and cost modeling of medical imaging systems and their applications.
  
  
• Development and application of standards for control of image quality and imaging software using reusable, portable, extensible and open source approaches.
  
  
• Integrative, correlative and comparative studies of normal and pathologic states that employ multi-modal, multi-temporal, and multi-dimensional medical imaging systems and techniques.
  
  
• Prediction, selection and monitoring therapeutic response by administering agents and imaging, to detect the location, amount, and fate of the agent in normal and diseased tissues.  This implies multi-temporal, image-based evaluation of tracers and metabolites in a detailed anatomic framework that could require multiple modalities and post-processing of complex data sets.
  
  
• Diagnosis of functional disorders and classification of tissue as normal or pathologic based on exogenous agents that may be tailored to specific cellular processes or genetic expressions
  
  
• Synthesis of new diagnostic agents or therapeutic pharmaceuticals used in medical imaging studies with attention to quality control, toxicology, biodistribution, and breakdown products; these studies often involve radiochemistry, pharmacokinetics, and pharmacodynamics.

MEDI has the following shared interests within the SBIB IRG:

• With Biomedical Imaging Technology [BMIT] regarding imaging proposals where equipment, software and technique development are underway simultaneous with the development, evaluation, and validation of the imaging application: In general, proposals that emphasize the design or development of medical imaging systems, their components, or software would be referred to BMIT; those that emphasize the application or validation of in vivo imaging approaches would be referred to MEDI.

MEDI has the following shared interests outside the SBIB IRG:

• With the Biological Chemistry and Macromolecular Biophysics [BCMB] IRG:  In general, the synthesis of radiolabeled compounds involving metal complexes would be referred to BCMB, however, if imaging studies are involved MEDI would be appropriate.
  
• With the Bioengineering Sciences and Technologies [BST] IRG: The development of techniques or procedures for imaging molecules or organelles is an area of shared interest.  If the purpose of imaging is to address questions of pathology, diagnosis, or treatment assignment would be to MEDI.  If the objective of the imaging is to investigate mechanisms or fundamental biological questions, assignment would be to BST.
  
• With the Digestive Sciences [DIG] IRG: In general, studies of the toxicity, biodistribution, breakdown products, pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of pharmaceutical compounds would be reviewed in DIG; if the compound is used in conjunction with imaging studies review could be in MEDI.
  
• With organ-system and disease IRGs: Review venue should be based on the nature of the scientific questions being addressed.  In general, proposals involving the initial application or validation of an in vivo imaging approach would be referred to MEDI; where imaging is being used as a tool to study a condition, process, therapy, etc., the application would be referred to an organ-system or disease IRG.