# Training in Cardiovascular Imaging Research

> **NIH NIH T32** · UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA · 2021 · $260,464

## Abstract

Program Director/Principal Investigator (Last, First, Middle): Kramer, Christopher M.
 Cardiovascular disease is the major cause of morbidity and mortality in the United States. In fact, 43% of
all deaths are due to coronary heart disease and heart failure is on the rise, expecting to increase in prevalence
by 46% between 2012 and 2030. The need for improved noninvasive methods to detect early disease and to
help manage patients with chronic disease has therefore never been as critical. Technical advances in
noninvasive cardiovascular imaging have resulted in increasing use over recent years. Nuclear cardiology and
echocardiography are mature technologies that are commonly used in clinical practice. Cardiovascular magnetic
resonance imaging (CMR), computed tomographic angiography (CTA), and positron emission tomography
(PET) are playing a growing role in the clinical assessment of CVD and are relatively new to cardiovascular
training programs. The number of physicians who have in-depth expertise in the physics, engineering, and
molecular applications in all 5 major cardiovascular imaging modalities remains limited. The University of Virginia
(UVA) is one of a handful of centers in the U.S. that have high-level clinical, physics, engineering, and molecular
expertise in all cardiovascular imaging modalities, as well as a track record of training physicians in research.
Over the past decade, trainees have been highly productive in terms of publication and half have gone on to
academic careers in outstanding institutions around the U.S. Two former trainees joined the UVA faculty and
have been NIH-funded, with 2 K23 and 1 R01 awards between them. The purpose of this grant renewal proposal
is to continue and further develop the training program that provides comprehensive training in cardiovascular
imaging research. The program provides trainees with outstanding opportunities to interact closely with imaging
physicists and engineers who together offer the promise of improvements in both the clinical applications of
these newer technologies and further development of and applications of translational imaging. Trainees have
dual mentorship from a PhD imaging scientist and a MD clinician investigator. The goal of the training is to
develop the next generation of academic investigators in cardiovascular imaging who can interact across
disciplines. Trainees undergo a rigorous 2-year research training program following a 2-year clinical
cardiovascular training program completed at the UVA or a 3-year program completed at another institution. Up
to 3 fellows are enrolled at any one time. A complete didactic program is offered including instruction in imaging
physics and engineering, biostatistics, epidemiology, clinical research methodology, and medical ethics. Fellows
receive training in clinical CMR, CTA, and PET. Research training is comprehensive and combines clinical and
basic cardiovascular imaging research for each trainee with any of the modalities.
P...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10172706
- **Project number:** 2T32EB003841-16
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA
- **Principal Investigator:** CHRISTOPHER M. KRAMER
- **Activity code:** T32 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $260,464
- **Award type:** 2
- **Project period:** 2004-07-01 → 2026-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10172706

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10172706, Training in Cardiovascular Imaging Research (2T32EB003841-16). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10172706. Licensed CC0.

---

*[NIH grants dataset](/datasets/nih-grants) · CC0 1.0*