Reston, Va.-The Education and Research Foundation (ERF) at SNM is offering new awards for young scientists and medical students who are currently working in or interested in entering the emerging field of molecular imaging.

These grants will provide researchers the means to conduct research and receive training in molecular imaging to carry forward into careers at government agencies, cancer centers, and scientific organizations. Specifically they will assist

* Junior medical faculty by providing salary support for those who have clinical responsibilities but wish to spend more time in research,

* Predoctoral candidates by supporting research endeavors into the development and/or integration of molecular imaging approaches (including new tools) to investigate biological pathways of disease, and
* Postdoctoral scholars by supporting a two-year research endeavor in molecular imaging at institutions with established molecular imaging programs.

"We are grateful to the Education and Research Foundation of SNM for their generous support of these important new grants and awards," said SNM President Alexander J. McEwan, M.D., professor and chair of the Department of Oncology, Faculty of Medicine, at the University of Alberta, and director of oncologic imaging at Cross Cancer Institute in Edmonton, Canada. "This is an opportunity to make a long-term investment in the people who will bring molecular imaging to the forefront of patient care," added McEwan, who represents more than 16,000 molecular imaging professionals.

ERF was created in 2004 to help secure and disperse funding to support the growing field of molecular imaging. The foundation's mission is to advance excellence in healthcare through education and research in nuclear medicine by provision of grants and awards, in support of SNM's strategic plan.

"Funding such as this is absolutely critical to advancing the entire field of molecular imaging," said Martin G. Pomper, M.D., Ph.D., and president of SNM's Molecular Imaging Center of Excellence. "Developing the next generation of molecular imaging scientists today is one of the most important things we can do to improve patient care tomorrow," added the professor of radiology at Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions in Baltimore, Md.

The application deadline for these awards is Friday, April 4, 2008. Researchers in all areas of molecular imaging are encouraged to apply immediately. Questions should be directed to Nicole Kern, program manager at SNM, (703) 652-6795, e-mail: nkern@snm.org.