Research is among the most important issues in all medical fields, including radiology. This is why I am particularly proud to say that the European Institute for Biomedical Imaging Research (EIBIR) celebrated its 10th anniversary at ECR 2016, a testament to its crucial role in supporting researchers in transforming their ideas into reality. The ESR’s efforts to enhance radiation protection research were put on a more solid footing with the establishment of the European Alliance for Medical Protection Research in cooperation with four other medical societies.

This alliance gives visibility to the medical field within radiation protection research and will shape this landscape for years to come. I have just scratched the surface of the many projects and initiatives that the ESR is involved in, but I hope it gives an impression of the society’s general philosophy. The organization has already achieved quite a lot in just over a decade of activity, but there is no shortage of ambition to keep moving forward.

HCB News: What do you see as the major issues and challenges facing radiologists in Europe today? Does this vary greatly by country?
PP: The economic situation is challenging for many European radiologists. Governments are reducing health care expenditures, implementing austerity measures and forcing hospitals to save money. Technologically advanced medicine, and radiology in particular, is negatively perceived as a driving force in the spiraling health care costs. However, given the demographics of an aging population, the demand for high-quality imaging is continuously increasing, from screening and prevention through to the monitoring of the effectiveness of a treatment. Moreover, there is a rapidly growing influence of information technology in imaging.

There are, obviously, differences between European countries, but the fundamental conundrum of European radiology remains the same throughout the continent: decreasing financial means and increasing demand for services. It is a challenge for the ESR to understand this diversity and to offer tailored solutions.

HCB News: What do you see as the big future trends in radiology?
PP: I am profoundly convinced that radiology is at the cusp of very big changes. We are facing a change of paradigm. This can be perceived as threatening, but, as always, changes also bring new opportunities. Please allow me to focus for a few moments on the new opportunities, rather than on the threats. I strongly believe that radiology is rapidly evolving from being a descriptive, qualitative branch of medicine toward quantification of diseases and lesions. Two elements are necessary to successfully achieve this evolution: reliable, high-quality, high-resolution, volumetric 3-D acquisition sequences; and software allowing quantification of volumes of anatomic structures and lesions. For example, in brain imaging, 3-D MRI sequences are being developed into a reliable and reproducible imaging biomarker for disease progression.

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