The American College of Radiology (ACR) is encouraged and gratified by the recent Annual Report to the Nation on the Status of Cancer1, which credits improved screening techniques and more effective treatment for the noticeable drop in national cancer mortality rates.

The ACR, through its clinical trials research groups, the American College of Radiology Imaging Network (ACRIN®) and the Radiation Therapy Oncology Group (RTOG®), has conducted research in diagnostic imaging and radiation therapy for almost 40 years and is one of the largest NCI funded clinical research organizations in the country.

"The ACR is proud of the research coordinated by our cooperative groups and by other institutions nationwide," said Arl Van Moore, Jr., M.D., FACR, chair of the ACR Board of Chancellors. "We are pleased that these types of research are leading to better diagnostic and radiation therapy techniques, which can help to improve disease detection, and save and extend lives."

Recently, the ACR launched ACR Image Metrix™, a contract research organization, which assists pharmaceutical and biotech manufacturers in the anticancer drug development using cutting-edge imaging to assist in the more rapid assessment of new anticancer compounds.

"We are very encouraged by this recent report on the drop in cancer deaths and believe that the rapidly-expanding imaging technology and techniques for drug development will only continue to accelerate more anticancer drugs onto the market," said Mike Morales, general manager for ACR Image Metrix.

The ACR's clinical research programs are among the largest recipients of federal medical research grants and have an established reputation for handling large-scale clinical trials, involving up to 50,000 patients and the processing of some 50 million images. ACR Image Metrix will leverage the same infrastructure and expertise, but will provide support to pharmaceutical companies, biotechnology firms, and medical device manufacturers seeking Food and Drug Administration approval to bring new drugs, therapies, and medical devices to market.

To learn more about ACR Image Metrix please visit www.imagemetrix.acr.org or call (888) 817-0817.

1The Annual Report to the Nation on the Status of Cancer was conducted by the American Cancer Society, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the National Cancer Institute and the North American Association of Central Cancer Registries.

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