The American Society of Radiologic Technologists (ASRT) Foundation has named the recipients of its fall 2012 professional research grants.

The Foundation gave a $10,000 grant to Richard H. Weening, PhD, to conduct a national MRI safety survey. Weening and co-investigators Rimmon R. Greenidge, MS, and Peter M. Natale, MS, from Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia, will gather data from U.S. hospitals to help identify risk factors that lead to MRI patient safety incidents.

Melissa B. Jackowski, EdD, of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, was awarded a $9,938 grant to evaluate what leadership characteristics individuals working in radiology feel are most important. Educators and trainers will use the data to design instructional materials that will help radiology professionals lead departments to improve patient care and outcomes.   

A $9,975 grant was awarded to Jenny Soo, MEd, and BC Cancer Agency – Vancouver Centre colleagues Ben Lee, MA, Rosemin Vellani, RT, and Mitchell Liu, MD, for a research study to determine the level of concordance between oncologists and radiation therapists in evaluating cone-beam CT images for stereotactic body radiation therapy treatments of the spine, liver and lung.

Brian Johnson, MS, was awarded a $9,722 grant to launch a project with colleagues from Pennsylvania State University in University Park that will use advanced neuroimaging techniques to evaluate the effect of subconcussive head trauma in athletes.  

Jeff B. Killion, PhD, and colleague James N. Johnston, PhD, from Midwestern State University in Wichita Falls, Texas, were awarded a $4,786 grant for a study that will investigate whether educators are experiencing burnout and other adverse health effects as a result of using smart devices.

The professional research grant program provides radiologic science professionals with funding to conduct a research project in affiliation with an academic or clinical institution.

Grant recipients submitted applications and were selected based on the strength of their proposal and alignment with the overall mission of the ASRT Foundation. The Foundation’s Research and Grants Advisory Panel evaluated grant applications and made recommendations to the Board of Trustees for funding. Recipients were then approved by the Board of Trustees.

Proposals for the spring 2013 grant programs are being accepted through March 1.