Nicholas P. Gruszauskas PhD, Presenter: Nothing to Disclose

Michael D. Torno DSc, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Heber Macmahon MD, Abstract Co-Author: Consultant, Riverain Medical Speaker, Konica Minolta Group Stockholder, Hologic, Inc

Maryellen L. Giger PhD, Abstract Co-Author: Stockholder, Hologic, Inc Royalties, Hologic, Inc Royalties, General Electric Company Royalties, Median Technologies Royalties, Riverain Medical Royalties, Mitsubishi Corporation Royalties, Toshiba Corporation

Samuel George Armato PhD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Tracking and managing imaging performed for clinical trials and research purposes can be a daunting task, particularly in a large academic medical center. Coordinating with both radiology and medical research staff to ensure that the necessary imaging is performed, analyzed and delivered in a manner that is compliant with the research protocol is non-trivial. A dedicated infrastructure was created to assist with these issues and improve collaborations between radiology and research staff: the Human Imaging Research Office (HIRO).

The HIRO was created with three primary responsibilities: (1) coordinating the acquisition of imaging data for clinical trials and research studies in a manner consistent with study protocols, (2) providing assessment and measurement of disease response for clinical trials in a consistent and coherent manner, and (3) managing and distributing clinical image data for research studies in an IRB- and HIPAA-compliant manner. Two full-time staff members, as well as several part-time staff members, are employed by this office.

After one year of operation, the HIRO’s Image Acquisition section has assisted 25 clinical trials from 8 different clinical departments. The Measurement and Analysis section has assisted 3 clinical trials and has performed quality assessments for each trial. The Image Collection and Database section has fulfilled over 184 requests for clinical images, delivering over 7.7 million images and related reports to investigators for research purposes.

Implementation of the HIRO has increased the level of satisfaction and interaction among medical investigators, research subjects, and imaging science clinicians and professionals, and various policies have created efficient workflows and avoided redundancies. Research studies and clinical trials that utilize the HIRO have benefited from a more efficient and accurate imaging experience. Further development of this model will continue to increase these benefits for radiology and clinical research staff.

Managing research imaging and providing image data to investigators in a large medical center is a non-trivial task, and our workflow and infrastructure provide a mechanism to do so efficiently.

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Gruszauskas, N, Torno, M, Macmahon, H, Giger, M, Armato, S, Managing Research Imaging in a Large Academic Medical Center: The Human Imaging Research Office.  Radiological Society of North America 2010 Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting, November 28 - December 3, 2010 ,Chicago IL. http://archive.rsna.org/2010/9005447.html