SIR Foundation is the only organization fully dedicated to interventional radiology (IR) research—leading clinical trials and registries, supporting clinical and basic scientific research, mentoring researchers, orchestrating international multidisciplinary expert panels and research summits and identifying and addressing the highest priority research needs in IR. Through these efforts, SIR Foundation elevates IR research to new heights, fostering discovery and innovation to improving patients' lives.
Each year, SIR Foundation identifies the top research priorities in IR and organizes international, multidisciplinary expert research panels (RCPs) to identify the research gaps in pertinent areas and recommend the next steps to move the area forward. Subsequently, the foundation offers funding for the development of a research priority from the RCP for higher-level funding.
Since 2002, SIR Foundation has organized more than 30 expert panel meetings. RCP proceedings are often published in the Journal of Vascular and Interventional Radiology (JVIR) and many of the projects have developed and received additional funding, either through SIR Foundation's grants program or from external funding sources, including the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
SIR Foundation has funded over 316 grants across a continuum of grant opportunities for both early and developed researchers. Funding and mentorship are provided to foster researchers and assist them in securing more significant external funding. Many of our grant recipients have secured subsequent funding through the National Institutes of Health, National Science Foundation, Department of Defense and other external sources.
SIR Foundation has launched a task force dedicated to increasing the engagement of IRs and IR scientists with the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The goal is to increase NIH funding for SIR members by addressing and identifying gaps in order to increase engagement with the NIH. Since 2004, SIR Foundation has awarded approximately 215 grants with an overall investment of $5 million. Out of 215 grants, 39 have additionally received NIH funding, totaling $37,562,220. As of 2021, this indicates for every dollar funded by an SIR Foundation grant, the recipient received an average of eight dollars from other sources like NIH.
