Grant: ICRH Emerging Network Grants - LOI

Canada is well positioned to take a leading role in the development and evaluation of new imaging technologies and biomarkers. Imaging plays a fundamental role in treatment planning and guidance, as well as early outcomes assessment for a wide range of cardiac, vascular and pulmonary diseases. The Canadian Imaging Network will identify the gaps and develop the associated future platforms that would better integrate activities of existing and emerging teams in support of a stronger international research profile for Canadian imaging efforts and more expeditious translation of these efforts into cost-effective improvements in population health. Participants in the Network include: leaders in the research community in imaging of stroke, cardiac, vascular, and respiratory disease, various imaging technologies, clinical trials, and clinical effectiveness / outcomes evaluation. Partners in translation include: professional associations and charitable organizations serving the target clinical communities; government / health technology assessment groups; and companies in the Imaging, Devices, and Pharmaceutical sectors. Particular foci of the Network include: translation of emerging technologies toward first in-patient studies;facilitating commercialization of those technologies; facilitating multi-centre clinical trials of imaging methods and using imaging for assessment of new drug and device therapies;and associated development of evidence of clinical effectiveness to support integration of results into clinical practice. Creating a coordinated effort to support training and mentoring of highly qualified personnel is a significant part of the Network's mandate. Specific programs to realize all of these goals include development of resource registries, best practices, and quality assurance programs and coordination of webinars and meetings to facilitate communication among Network investigators and with partners in translation.