IWG Cores/Education Subgroup

1. IWG Cores/Education Subgroup • Goals (initially – June 2008) • Define what constitutes an imaging core • Create an inventory of imaging technologies • Define mechanisms to make imaging available to translational researchers • Provide access to imaging experts • Enhance awareness of CTSA imaging cores • Examine methods of providing guidance and education

2. CTSA Imaging Core Realities • Unreasonable to develop ‘cookie-cutter’ definition (no imaging cores at some sites) • Great diversity among approaches, assets and strengths between sites • Clearly have pristine subject matter expertise when involving multiple sites • Have conducted 15-question survey to address structure, expertise, role in CTSA

3. Primary Goals of CTSA at RSNA Meeting • Agree upon prominent issues that we can address on behalf of the IWG • Gain commitment from specific people to investigate and write ‘white papers’ on best-practices related to those issues • Work with subgroup leaders and RSNA to facilitate collection of information

4. Survey of all 38 sites • Sent survey to imaging contacts at all 38 CTSA sites (20 responses) • Tried to assess interest in and programs that address education in imaging in translational research • Asked sites directly about their issues and what the IWG should do to assist them

5. How can IWG help you? • Share best practices, lessons learned, techniques, infrastructural design of cores, educational materials, etc. • National collaborative projects • Advocating for imaging cores within CTSA programs, including finding rationale for accessing funding

6. Topics Suggested by Sites • Investigate educational programs or approaches related to clinical or translational imaging Katarzyna Macura, MD, PhD; John Kotyk, PhD • Best practices in providing review of imaging protocols Carolyn Meltzer, MD; Brian Reynolds, PhD • Mechanisms of obtaining funding for imaging cores Brian Reynolds, PhD; Gordon Harris, PhD 4. Creating awareness and accessibility of the CTSA and the imaging capabilities available to researchers Brian Reynolds, PhD 5. Providing researchers with access to imaging expertise Frank Koresec, PhD

7. Education Survey

8. Investigate educational programs related to clinical or translational imaging • None of immediate broad application were identified (BME, Biophysics) • Determine content and mechanism of delivery (possibly several)

9. Scope or Educational Efforts • Radiology/Imaging Community • Emerging technologies in translational research • Clinical trials methodology • Examples of implemented educational programs • Broad Medical Community • Promote imaging technologies as enhancing translational research • Imaging 101 for non-imagers

10. Methodologies • Develop inventory of educational projects • Existing materials and courses • Solicit links to online resources at various Imaging Cores • Solicit access to PDF documents from courses • Proposals to design new material to be shared by sites • Providing online access to ALL IWG members • Wiki or other mechanism under RSNA or CTSA • Propose a recommendation and educational materials to be sent to APDR • Organize open house/seminars in imaging centers

11. Best practices in providing review of imaging protocols • Multiple flow charts from several organizations (Wisconsin, Wash U, Harvard, Emory, Duke, Colorado, UCLA) that provide several rational approaches to integrating protocol review • Frequently involves a liaison for filtering reviews, contracts/finance, radiology, therapeutic area specialist – tend to be more focused on oncology now • Involve junior faculty – incentives are P&T credit, collaboration, publication, meeting new investigators, etc.; generally more responsive

12. Radiology Review Form Email to Radiology Business Office for reviewer assignment. Please attach study protocol and any other applicable information. Protocol Information: Neuro Oncology Oncology Other : Please specify: Title: Sponsor: Principal Investigator: Email address: Contact person: 1. Check imaging required as stated in protocol. X ray Scan Frequency __________ CT Scan Frequency___________ MRI Scan Frequency___________ Nuclear med (PET/SPECT) Scan Frequency___________ Ultrasound Scan Frequency___________ Image-guided biopsy

13. Mechanisms of obtaining funding for imaging cores • Most common response had to do with fee-for-service approaches; pricing structures and activities that generate fees will be assessed (many are public) • Need to have differentiated pricing for investigator initiated verses sponsored studies • Some mentioned RO1, PO1 and DoD funding for imaging

14. Creating awareness and accessibility of the CTSA and the imaging capabilities available to researchers • Newsletters, emails, speaking at seminars, grand rounds, websites, host conferences • The rank of the individual sending the informational emails makes a big difference in whether they are opened • Provide differentiated services • Pilot projects (offer $$) • Best customer-service oriented; “feet on the street” • Be patient

15. Providing researchers with access to imaging expertise • Also may involve an imaging liaison to target question to appropriate expert • This may also be a good place to uee younger faculty • Open-houses; Create availability • Work with departmental and institutional leadership to assign value to this activity; maybe partial effort to sit on committee of advisors • Organize broad group of experts to participate • Investigate creating CTSA-wide “expert inventory” • Harvard-Catalyst

16. Our Next Steps • Consolidate information derived from our survey • Collect protocols, flow charts, processes, educational programs, networking approaches, etc. from sites and publish ‘good’ practices • Drill down further into educational content and mechanism, publicizing imaging cores • Write up and share everything!