Richard Duszak Grant

The Richard Duszak Grant, administered by the Neiman Health Policy Institute (HPI), supports novel, collaborative research projects in radiology that align with the HPI’s mission to advance health policy through evidence-based practices. Named in honor of Dr. Richard Duszak—renowned health services researcher and leader of HPI’s IMPACT Center at Emory University—this grant program focuses on high-impact studies that leverage HPI's robust analytic capabilities and extensive data resources to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of radiologic care. This grant uniquely provides awardees with in-kind support rather than direct financial funding. Selected grantees will collaborate with HPI analysts and senior researchers, who contribute effort and technical expertise to the development, execution, and interpretation of proposed studies. The support package includes up to $60,000 worth of HPI staff time, including oversight from leadership, a dedicated data analyst, and access to large-scale healthcare claims datasets such as Medicare, Medicaid, and commercial payers. These resources enable grantees to execute methodologically robust research projects, even without institutional access to proprietary data. The value of HPI’s data infrastructure alone is estimated at over $1 million. This grant also includes optional mentorship from Dr. Duszak, who may participate in milestone meetings and guide clinical and policy implications. The Duszak Grant invites proposals focused on key radiology policy areas such as emerging payment and delivery models, workforce sustainability, cancer screening adherence, the value of radiologists in population health contexts, and technological innovations like artificial intelligence, telehealth, and digital imaging. Research projects must be hypothesis-driven and generate actionable findings that can influence policy or practice. Applicants should propose topics that make effective use of HPI’s data and analysis capacity, with clarity around the proposed scope and collaborative needs. Eligible applicants include full-time faculty and trainees with MD, DO, PhD, or equivalent degrees who are based at U.S. educational institutions. The principal investigator must be a member of the American College of Radiology, and justification is required if other personnel are not members. Applications are due via email to [email protected] no later than 8 PM ET on March 3, 2026. Late or incomplete submissions will not be considered. The application must include a detailed research narrative (up to five pages), an executive summary, letters of support (including from a department chair), and biosketches or CVs for all key personnel. No project budget is required at submission; selected applicants will collaborate with HPI to formalize a budget representing the in-kind support value. The review process mirrors NIH-style criteria and evaluates proposals for significance, innovation, investigator qualifications, methodological rigor, alignment with HPI capacity, and feasibility within the 12-month project timeline. Grantees are expected to submit research manuscripts for peer-reviewed publication, with co-authorship extended to HPI contributors where applicable. Acknowledgement of HPI support is required in all resulting publications and presentations. Regular check-ins with HPI staff will guide the project’s progress, replacing formal reporting requirements and reinforcing the grant’s collaborative model.