Reston, Va. - James H. Thrall, M.D., FACR, chair of the American College of Radiology Board of Chancellors, Radiologist-in-Chief, Massachusetts General Hospital, and Professor of Radiology, Harvard Medical School, has been selected to serve as a member of the Advisory Committee to the Director (ACD) of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Since 1966, the ACD has advised the NIH Director on policy and planning issues important to the NIH mission of conducting and supporting biomedical and behavioral research, research training, and translating research results for the public.

Dr. Thrall is internationally known for his work in nuclear medicine and for his development of research programs in radiology. He has served on the boards of several national organizations. In addition to serving as board chair of the ACR, he is secretary of the Academy of Radiology Research.

"Of course, I am extremely honored at this selection. I am glad to offer any assistance to the director of NIH. Radiology and radiation oncology serve an increasingly vital and central role in the health care system. I am proud to represent this sector of medicine on this prestigious and important council," said ACR chair Thrall.
Dr. Thrall received his B.A. and M.D. degrees from the University of Michigan. He came to Harvard from the Henry Ford Hospital, where he served as chairman of the Department of Radiology. Prior to that, he served as professor of internal medicine and radiology at the University of Michigan. Dr. Thrall is former chair of the ACR Molecular Imaging Commission and a past president of the American Roentgen Ray Society.

The Office of the Director, the central office at NIH, is responsible for setting policy for NIH, which includes 27 Institutes and Centers. This involves planning, managing, and coordinating the programs and activities of all NIH components. The Office of the Director also includes program offices which are responsible for stimulating specific areas of research throughout NIH.

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