Research Seed Grant

The Radiological Society of North America (RSNA) Research & Education Foundation administers the Research Seed Grant to help radiologic investigators worldwide gather preliminary data and establish feasibility for larger-scale funding applications. Since 1984, the Foundation has awarded more than 1,900 grants totaling over $84 million to advance imaging science and improve patient care. Through this program, RSNA supports innovative pilot research that strengthens investigators’ ability to secure future funding from corporations, foundations, or government agencies. The Foundation emphasizes inclusion and diversity, encouraging applicants from a broad range of backgrounds and institutions to participate. The Research Seed Grant funds one-year projects with a total award amount of up to $60,000. These grants are designed for early-stage or mid-level investigators seeking to generate preliminary or feasibility data that will form the foundation for larger, externally funded proposals. Funds may not supplement existing major funding or provide salary support for the principal investigator. The Foundation prohibits the use of grant funds for institutional overhead, indirect costs, or travel expenses to the RSNA Annual Meeting. Unexpended funds must be returned to the Foundation at the end of the grant term. Grant funds are released in a single installment, with ten percent held until submission of a satisfactory final report within sixty days after project completion. The 2026–27 application cycle is currently open, with proposals due by January 23, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. Central Time. The performance period for funded projects runs from July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027. Applications must be submitted online and include required uploads such as biosketches, a detailed research plan (five pages maximum), budget and justification, letters of support, and a signed institutional authorization form. Applicants must describe specific aims, background and significance, research design and methods, and a timeline of events. Research involving human or animal subjects or other regulated materials requires appropriate institutional approvals before funds are released. Eligibility is open to RSNA members worldwide who hold a full-time faculty position in a department of radiology, radiation oncology, or nuclear medicine. North American applicants must be board certified or eligible for certification by the American Board of Radiology or the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada. International applicants must hold equivalent board certification in their home country. Applicants and their co-principal investigators may not be employed by for-profit commercial entities and may not have previously served as principal investigators on grants or contracts exceeding $60,000 per year. Each applicant may submit only one RSNA grant per year and cannot hold concurrent RSNA funding. Applications are reviewed by a scientific study section composed of expert physicians and scientists. Proposals are evaluated for significance, innovation, scientific merit, design and methodology, feasibility within the grant period, and potential for securing subsequent funding. Reviewers also assess applicant qualifications, mentorship strength, and institutional support. Final funding decisions are approved by the RSNA Research & Education Foundation Board of Trustees. Recipients are publicly announced and featured in RSNA communications. A final report summarizing results, outcomes, and expenditures is required within sixty days of project completion, and awardees must submit resulting manuscripts first to RSNA-affiliated journals or conferences. This program is part of RSNA’s ongoing commitment to fostering the next generation of imaging scientists. In addition to investigator-initiated topics, RSNA encourages proposals aligned with 2026 priority areas, including precision medicine and theranostics, imaging in vulnerable populations, efficiency improvement in radiology, personalized pediatric imaging, cybersecurity in radiology departments, and access and resource optimization. The Research Seed Grant provides a vital launch point for early investigators, enabling them to explore new scientific directions, refine methods, and enhance their competitiveness for future large-scale funding.

Emphasize innovation, feasibility, and potential for future funding. Ensure research plan is independent, achievable within one year, and well supported by mentorship and facilities. Clearly link aims to radiologic advancement and clinical relevance.