Funding will help to develop a new imaging technique to enhance CT measurement
LONDON, Ontario – Ambition and acumen has won a young London scientist a prestigiousresearch grant, in an impressive start to a promising career in medical imaging. TheRadiological Society of North America (RSNA) Research and Education (R&E) Foundation hasawarded a one-year, $50,000 RSNA Research Fellow Grant to Aaron So, PhD. So is aradiology resident undergoing medical physicist training in diagnostic imaging at the LawsonHealth Research Institiute, St. Joseph's Health Care, London.
“I congratulate Dr. So for successfully competing for this prestigious award at such an earlystage of his academic career.” said Jannette Collins, M.D., M.Ed., co-chair of the R&EFoundation’s Grant Program Committee. “R&E Foundation grant applications undergo a reviewprocess that is considered rigorous by even the most experienced researchers.”
Coronary artery disease (CAD) is among the leading causes of mortality in the world.Quantitative measurement of blood supply to the heart in CAD patients can provide additionalcritical information regarding the outcome of a coronary lesion detected by CT coronaryangiography. It is particularly useful for evaluating the risk of heart attack in those who haveinsufficient blood supply to the heart. Other imaging techniques can fail to detect this criticalinformation. CT myocardial perfusion imaging requires intravenous injection of a CT contrastagent followed by repeated scanning of the heart over 30 seconds.“
This funding allows me to develop a novel dual energy CT myocardial perfusion imagingtechnique that will minimize image artifact (error) induced by CT contrast agent resides in theheart.” says Dr. So. “Compared with the traditional single energy CT, the new technique willallow a more accurate myocardial perfusion measurement and evaluation of the risk of heartattack in patients with CAD so that decisions on the appropriate treatment for restoring bloodsupply can be made accordingly.”
The RSNA fellowship grant provides an excellent start to Dr. So’s academia career. Thefunding will help to generate preliminary data that will allow him to acquire further researchfunding. Dr. So has a bright future ahead of him. When asked of his future plans, he is certain.“My long term goal is to become a CT imaging scientist in a radiology department in anacademic hospital,” says Dr. So. “An ideal career would allow me to equally divide my timebetween clinical service and academic imaging research.”
About Lawson Health Research Institute
As the research institute of London Health Sciences Centre and St. Joseph's HealthCare, London, and working in partnership with The University of Western Ontario,Lawson Health Research Institute is committed to furthering scientific knowledge toadvance health care aroundthe world.
About RSNA
RSNA is an association of more than 44,000 radiologists, radiation oncologists, medicalphysicists and related scientists committed to excellence in patient care througheducation and research. The RSNA R&E Foundation provides grants to advanceradiologic research, education and practice. Information on all of the Foundation’sfunding opportunities is available online, RSNA.org/Foundation.
For more information, please contact:
Melissa Beilhartz, Communications Consultant
Lawson Health Research Institute
519-646-6100 ext. 65516
Melissa.beilhartz@lawsonresearch.com
www.lawsonresearch.com
