In the News

Email Print

The "Bench to Bedside" fundraising effort, launched last summer, has received nearly $3.3 million in corporate pledges from GE Healthcare, Bristol-Myers Squibb Medical Imaging, Siemens Medical Solutions USA, IBA Molecular, Philips Medical Systems, MDS Nordion, Cardinal Health and FluoroPharma to bring molecular imaging advances from preliminary research into clinical implementation.

Through collaboration with the members of SNM's Molecular Imaging Center of Excellence, the society will support translational research; facilitate clinical research and clinical trials; support outreach activities; increase advocacy efforts; train the current imaging workforce; and educate future generations of practitioners on the applications of molecular imaging.

"We are at an important phase, moving from the initial planning stage into an advocacy, educational and research phase of our five-year action plan to bring molecular imaging research from bench to bedside," says SNM President Martin P. Sandler, MD. "As we move forward, we always keep the focus on how our initiatives relate to the all-important goal of transforming patient care," he adds.

SNM's Molecular Imaging Center of Excellence focuses on education, clinical trials, research and advocacy. The center has been gearing up this year by forming task force teams with medical and basic science experts in different core areas.

These subject matter experts are providing guidance in the creation of education and professional development programs, new grants and awards and protocols and standards for the field.

New activities in the upcoming months include development of a new informational Web site and increased advocacy efforts on Capitol Hill. The Molecular Imaging Center of Excellence will launch a new Web site, independent of SNM's Web site, this summer.

The new site will be a repository of information for researchers, physicians, patients or anyone interested in molecular imaging. SNM members will meet with legislators and decision-makers in Washington, D.C., during the society's annual meeting this June, and issues relating to molecular imaging will be on the agenda.

"We feel that it is important to share as much information as possible in order to help the science grow faster," said Molecular Imaging Center of Excellence President Martin G. Pomper. "We feel that giving molecular imaging researchers a home on the Internet is a good place to start the exchange of ideas," he says.

— SNM

Back to top

business briefs
Agfa HealthCare, Mortsel, Belgium, has announced that Irving, Texas-based Novation has awarded the company contracts to provide radiology PACS, radiology information systems and cardiology PACS to the University Health System Consortium, VHA Inc. and HealthCare Purchasing Partners International (HPPI) member facilities.

Rochester, N.Y.-based Eastman Kodak Company's Health Group has signed contracts for its Kodak DirectView digital radiography and computed radiography systems with Chester County Hospital, West Chester, Pa., and Good Samaritan Hospital, Lebanon, Pa.

Franklin, Tenn.-based MedSolutions has been recognized for providing "An Outstanding Customer Service Experience" under the J.D. Power and Associates Certified Call Center ProgramSM by the Westlake Village, Calif.-based global marketing information services firm. MedSolutions is the first radiology management company to be certified under the program.

Indianapolis-based Zotec Solutions Inc. and Healthcare Management Partners (HMP), Santa Ana, Calif., have announced the merger of the two companies to create Zotec Partners, a solutions firm providing state-of-the art proprietary medical billing services and licensed software to hospital-based physician specialty practices across the United States.

Gale Passman, of Westfield, Ind., was named the winner of the first Terumo Interventional Systems Writing Competition, sponsored by the American Society of Radiologic Technologists Education and Research Foundation and Terumo Interventional Systems. Passman was awarded funds to attend the 2007 Association of Vascular and Interventional Radiographers meeting held last month in Seattle.

Back to top