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How the Institute of Medicine report on comparative effectiveness research will impact imaging research and practice

Justine Seidenfeld and Wade M Aubry

Medical imaging research questions comprise 11 of the 100 topics highlighted by the Institute of Medicine’s report on priorities in comparative effectiveness research (CER). The current report was solicited by Congress in the 2009 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to provide guidance for the distribution of US$1.1 billion in new funding for CER studies. Besides suggesting cautious use of imaging technologies that lack sufficient evidence of effectiveness, the report will impact future research by supporting the use of comparative study designs, more appropriate outcomes and a greater emphasis on subpopulation analysis. Results from CER on medical imaging technologies has significant potential to help end users of evidence, such as patients, providers and payers, make well-informed clinical and policy decisions.