BIDMC Radiology Research Grants & Awards

Muneeb Ahmed, MD 

  • 2021-2024 
  • Study title: “A Multicenter, Single-Arm, Open-Label Phase II Trial of Cryoablation in Combination with Pembrolizumab in Patients with Metastatic Urothelial Carcinoma” 
  • MERCK / Boston Scientific, Inc. 
  • Role: Co-Investigator (PIs: Wehrenberg-Klee / Gao / Einstein) 

Muneeb Ahmed, MD 

  • 2022-2024 
  • Study title: “Combinational Thermal Ablation and Nanodrug Immunomodulation to Promote Anti-Tumor Immunity” 
  • RSNA Research Scholar Grant (M. Moussa, BIDMC) 
  • RSNA Research and Education Foundation  
  • Role: Co-Investigator / Faculty mentor (PI: M. Moussa) 
  • Major goal: To study the effect of combination adjuvant liposomal GM-CCSF on immune cell trafficking and promoting an immune tumor microenvironment following thermal ablation. 

Olga Brook, MD, MBA

  • 2024-2026
  • Study title: "Integration of Dual-Energy CT and a Novel Deep-Learning Image Reconstruction Algorithm into a Routine Clinical Workflow in a High-Volume Tertiary Center – Challenges and Solutions.”
  • GE 
  • Role: Principal investigator; Francesca Rigiroli, MD: Co-principal investigator
  • Major goal: Drs. Brook and Rigiroli will examine the best way to implement dual-energy CT and a novel deep-learning reconstruction algorithm. Their experience and findings will be a blueprint for implementing these techniques at other institutions.

Olga Brook, MD, MBA

  • 2020 CRICO Grant Funding 
  • Study title: “Radiology Review of Pathology Results Discordant With Imaging Findings of Image-Guided Biopsy” 
  • Role: Principal investigator; Seth Berkowitz, MD: Co-investigator 

Julie Bulman, MD 

  • Award: 2023-2024 Eleanor and Miles Shore Faculty Development Program - Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center Department of Radiology Fellowship 

Salomao Faintuch, MD 

  • 2023-present 
  • Study title: “A Prospective, Multicenter, Single-Arm Post-Approval Study Investigating the Clinical Use and Safety of the Lutonix Drug-Coated Balloon PTA Catheter for the Treatment of Dysfunctional AV Fistulae” 
  • Role: Site PI  
  • Major goal: To determine the safety and efficacy of drug-eluting balloon angioplasty in dysfunctional hemodialysis AV fistulae.    

Salomao Faintuch, MD 

  • Study title: “A Safety and Feasibility Single-Arm Study of a Novel Catheter Thrombectomy Device for the Treatment of Pulmonary Embolism (ENGULF)” 
  • Role: Site PI  
  • Major goal: To determine the safety and efficacy of a novel catheter thrombectomy device for submassive pulmonary embolism. 

Ritu Gill, MD 

  • 04/01/22-03/31/27 
  • 1R01HL155522-01A1 (Doyle) 0.6 CM 
  • Study title: “NIH / NIBIB Clinical and Molecular Features of Progressive Subclinical Rheumatoid Arthritis-associated Parenchymal Lung Disease” 
  • Role: Co-investigator 
  • Major goal: The aim is to better define clinical as well as molecular and genetic features of progressive subclinical parenchymal lung disease with a particular focus on the early stages of progressive fibrotic lung disease associated with RA, thereby leading to improved characterization and identification of the early stages of the disease and allow opportunities for early intervention and improved outcomes. 

Ritu Gill, MD 

  • 2/20-2024 
  • ECOG ACRIN/RTOG (Rimner) 
  • Study title: Phase III Randomized Trial of Pleurectomy/Decortication Plus Chemotherapy with or without Adjuvant Hemithoracic Intensity-Modulated Pleural Radiation Therapy (IMPRINT) for Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma (MPM). 
  • Role: Radiology Co-chair (NCI PI: Rimner) 
  • This trial is part of the National Clinical Trials Network (NCTN) program, sponsored by the National Cancer Institute (NCI). NRG Oncology will lead the trial with the participation of the network of NCTN organizations: the Alliance for Clinical Trials in Oncology; ECOG-ACRIN Medical Group; and SWOG. 

Diana Litmanovich, MD

  • 2020-2024 
  • Study title: ACR Fund for Collaborative Research in Imaging (FCRI) entitled “Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR) Registry” (pilot study) 
  • Role: National Co-PI (2 Co-PI) 
  • Data is being collected 

Colin McCarthy, MD 

  • Award: 2023-2024 Eleanor and Miles Shore Faculty Development Program - Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center Department of Radiology Fellowship  

Marwan Moussa, MD 

  • 7/2022-6/2024  
  • Study title: “Combinational Thermal Ablation and Nanodrug Immunomodulation to Promote Anti-Tumor Immunity” 
  • Radiological Society of North America (RSNA) Research Scholar Grant 
  • Major goals: Building on prior findings of successful improvement of ablation antitumor immunity, survival benefits in two clinically relevant models are investigated. Simulating a portal shower 1) the effect of nano immune / TA therapies on microscopic metastasis in a colorectal cancer model are investigated. In a hepatoma model 2) the effect of nano immune/TA therapies on tumor recurrence is characterized. 

Ammar Sarwar, MD 

  • 2021-Completion of Enrollment 
  • Study title: “Safety and Efficacy of Yttrium-90 Radioembolization Combined with PD-1 Inhibition in Treatment of Intra-Hepatic Cholangiocarcinoma” 
  • AstraZeneca and Sirtex Medical  
  • Role: Co-PI (with Andrea Bullock)  
  • Major goal: This grant proposes to investigate the safety and efficacy of combining yttrium-90 radioembolization with PD-1 inhibition in treating intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma. 

Ammar Sarwar, MD 

  • 2021-Completion of Enrollment  
  • Study title: “A Prospective, Multicenter, Open-Label, Single-Arm Study Evaluating the Safety and Efficacy of Selective Internal Radiation Therapy (SIRT) Using SIR-Spheres® Y-90 Resin Microspheres on the Duration of Response (DoR) and Objective Response Rate (ORR) In Unresectable Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC) Patients” 
  • (DOORwaY90 Study) 
  • Sirtex Medical Inc. 
  • Role: Site PI (Overall PI: Armeen Mahvash, MD)  
  • Major goal: This grant proposes investigating the safety, efficacy, and outcomes of yttrium-90 resin microspheres for hepatocellular carcinoma. 

Ammar Sarwar, MD 

  • 2021-Completion of Enrollment 
  • Study title: “A Prospective, Randomized, Open-Label Study to Examine the Effects of a Pressure-enabled Drug Delivery Device on Radiotracer Distribution Compared to a Standard Microcatheter in the Context of Radioembolization (PEDIR)” 
  • TriSalus Life Sciences Inc. 
  • Role: Site PI (Overall PI: Patrick Sutphin, MD)  
  • Major goal: This clinical trial investigates a device to increase the pressure during hepatic arterial embolization procedures by randomizing patients undergoing planning procedures for radioembolization to the pressure-enabled device or a standard end-hole microcatheter. 

Ammar Sarwar, MD 

  • 2023-Completion of Enrollment 
  • Study title: “Radioembolization Oncology Trial Utilizing Transarterial Eye90 (ROUTE 90) for the Treatment of Hepatocellular Carcinoma” 
  • ABK Biomedical Inc. 
  • Role: Site PI (Overall PI: Andrew Kennedy, MD)  
  • Major goal: This clinical trial investigates new radio-opaque glass microspheres combined with yttrium-90 for radioembolization of hepatocellular carcinoma. 

Ammar Sarwar, MD  

  • 2023-2025 
  • Study title: “Characterization and Outcomes of Resin Radiation Segmentectomy for Liver Cancers: A Multicenter Retrospective Study” 
  • Sirtex Medical Inc. 
  • Role: Site PI (overall PI: Adam Talenfeld, MD)  
  • Major goal: This retrospective study seeks to evaluate the efficacy and safety of radiation segmentectomy using resin microspheres. 

Bettina Siewert, MD

  • 9/7/2022
  • SIDM 43547
  • Study title: "Reducing Diagnostic Communication Errors in Radiology Practice through Human Factors Engineering"

Gopal Varma, PhD

  • 9/7/2022
  • NIH RUSH 43454
  • Study title: "Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) of Post-Mortem Brainstems from Older Adults With and Without AD/ADRD"

Recognizing a trainee who has advanced radiologic knowledge through outstanding research performed in the Department of Radiology 

  • 2023- Charissa Kim, MD, PhD
  • 2022- Katherine van Schaik, MD, PhD
  • 2021- Eddy Zandee van Rilland, MD
  • 2019- Geunwon Sun-Kim, MD & Anna Kuhn, MD 
  • 2017- Patricia Coutinho DeSouza, MD
  • 2016- Benedikt Heidinger, MD 
  • 2015- Elisa Franquet, MD 
  • 2014- Leo Tsai, MD, PhD
  • 2013- Jennifer Ni Mhuircheartaigh, MD 
  • 2012- Mai-Lan Ho, MD 
  • 2011- Olga Brook, MD 
  • 2010- Gethin Williams, MD, PhD 
  • 2009- Andrew Hines-Peralta, MD 
  • 2007- Mizuki Habatu, MD 
  • 2006- Karen Lee, MD 
  • 2005- Muneeb Ahmed, MD 
  • 2003- Jingbo Zhang, MD 
  • 2002- Eric Chiang, MD 

For outstanding research performed as a trainee in the Department of Radiology

  • 2023- Francesca Rigiroli, MD 
  • 2022- Eddy Zandee van Rilland, MD
  • 2021- Aamir Ali, MBBS & Natasha Laroque, MD
  • 2020- Manuel Taso, PhD
  • 2019- Michael Luo, MD
  • 2018- Fourie Bezuidenhout, MD
  • 2017- Anthony Esparaz, MD
  • 2016- Mark Miller, MD
  • 2015- Tamuna Chadashvili, MD, PhD
  • 2014- Ammar Sarwar, MD
  • 2013- Leo Tsai, MD, PhD & Mai-Lan Ho, MD
  • 2012- Harold Brodoefel, MD & Catherine Dewhurst, MB, BCH, BAO, BMedSC
  • 2011- Olga Brook, MD
  • 2010- Gethin Williams, MD
  • 2009- Andrew Hines-Peralta, MD
  • 2008- Steven Anderson, MD & Diana Litmanovich, MD 
  • 2007- Muneeb Ahmed, MD 
  • 2006- Karen Lee, MD & Elena Vinogradov, MD
  • 2005- Mizuki Nishino, MD 
  • 2004- Michael Ohliger, MD
  • 2003- Cedric De Bazelaire, MD & Jacob Sosna, MD 
  • 2002- Eric Chiang, MD & Atif Zaheer, MD 
  • 2001- Wayne Monsky, MD, PhD & Mark Pandori, PhD 
  • 2000- Jong-Ho Richard Choi, MD, ScD & Ihab Khamel, MD, PhD 
  • 1999- John Copeland, PhD; Martina Morrin, MD, Bch; Dmitry Rabkin, MD, PhD 
  • 1998- Adil Bashir, MD & Tejas Mehta, MD
  • 1997- Bettina Siewert, MD & Terrance Wong, MD
  • Dr. Saad Malik: Recognized as a Morris Simon Scholar for his contributions to improving the outcomes for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma.
  • Dr. Julie Bulman: Recognized as a Morris Simon Scholar for her sustained efforts in advancing the roles and opportunities for women in Interventional Radiology.
  • Dr. Francesca Rigiroli: Recognized as a Morris Simon Scholar for her sustained and impactful contributions to health services research.
  • Dr. Marwan Moussa: Awarded a Morris Simon Sabbatical in recognition of his scientific innovations and unique contributions to the field of solid tumor ablations.
  • Dr. Vijay Ramalingam: Recognized as a Morris Simon Scholar for his sustained and impactful contributions to global education and health.
  • Dr. Stephanie Nougaret: Recognized as a Morris Simon Visiting Research Scholar for her outstanding contributions to advancing women’s health, specifically through her innovations in defining ovarian cancer biomarkers.

Spotlight: 2023 Morris Simon Scholars

 

  • Dr. Saad Malik: Recognized as a Morris Simon Scholar for his contributions to improving the outcomes for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma.
  • Dr. Julie Bulman: Recognized as a Morris Simon Scholar for her sustained efforts in advancing the roles and opportunities for women in Interventional Radiology.
  • Dr. Francesca Rigiroli: Recognized as a Morris Simon Scholar for her sustained and impactful contributions to health services research.
  • Dr. Marwan Moussa: Awarded a Morris Simon Sabbatical in recognition of his scientific innovations and unique contributions to the field of solid tumor ablations.
  • Dr. Vijay Ramalingam: Recognized as a Morris Simon Scholar for his sustained and impactful contributions to global education and health.
  • Dr. Stephanie Nougaret: Recognized as a Morris Simon Visiting Research Scholar for her outstanding contributions to advancing women’s health, specifically through her innovations in defining ovarian cancer biomarkers.

Spotlight: 2022 RSNA Research Scholar Grant Award

 

In 2022, a two-year grant was awarded to Marwan Moussa, MD, Vascular & Interventional Radiology, for his study titled “Combinational Thermal Ablation and Nanodrug Immunomodulation to Promote Anti-Tumor Immunity.” The Research Scholar Grant is the RSNA Foundation’s premier career development grant that transitions junior faculty to independent investigators. Funding protects research time to conduct complex projects under the guidance of a mentor and scientific advisor in preparation for NIH funding. Dr. Francesca Rigiroli, trainee editor for Radiology: Imaging Cancer, and BIDMC Radiology Clinical Fellow in Abdominal Imaging & Interventions, has since interviewed Dr. Moussa about his work. Listen to the podcast episode here.