Title:
Cooperative Trials in Diagnostic Imaging — The American College of Radiology Imaging Network (ACRIN)

Contact:
Barbara A. Galen, MSN, CRNP
Program Director, Cancer Imaging Program
Division of Cancer Treatment and Diagnosis
National Cancer Institute
Bethesda, MD 20892-7412
Voice: (301) 594-5225
E-mail: bgalen@mail.nih.gov

Objective of Project:

The overall objective of this limited competition RFA is to improve the use of imaging in cancer research and cancer care management through continuing support of a unique, multi-center imaging network- the American College of Imaging Network (ACRIN).

Description of Project:

The Network will continue to be focused on investigator initiated research involving key aspects of imaging technology assessment. Anticipated benefits include:

  1. Advancing imaging science as it applies to cancer
  2. Improving appropriateness of cancer care
  3. Incorporating imaging into therapeutic trials
  4. Developing new techniques that will improve cancer treatment
  5. Facilitating the role of imaging in reducing cancer related suffering and death.
Specific goals for the Network include:
  1. Providing a flexible organizational structure. The multi-disciplinary, scientific core member institutions will continue efforts to support a meaningful and continuous dialog with the oncology and imaging science communities. This will allow the Network to maintain and improve on participation in a fully integrated NCI Clinical Trials System and continually improve the quality of imaging science and its impact on cancer research.
  2. Providing core facilities to support research activities. The Network will continue to provide central logistical, informatics, data management and archive, and financial management support and facilities to participating members and sites.
  3. Conducting clinical imaging science research in a full spectrum of relevant scientific areas of interest to both the oncology community and imaging science communities.
  4. Conducting biostatistical methodological research specific for imaging trials supported by the Network.
  5. Sharing research resources through compliance with and participation in the Cancer Biomedical Informatics Grid (caBIG). The Network will plan for appropriate analytical algorithms and bioinformatics software tools, ontologies, and data

Funds Set Aside:

The funds set aside for this project (two ACRIN U01 awards) are $7,300,000 Total Cost for the first year (FY 2008) with a maximum 5 year award.