Jeffrey L. Duerk, dean of the Case School of Engineering, recently was named a Distinguished Investigator of the Academy of Radiology Research.
This award recognizes individuals for their accomplishments in the field of imaging research. This is the first year the award has been bestowed, and only 70 researchers were inducted into the inaugural class.
The Academy of Radiology Research is an alliance of 27 professional imaging societies from around the world and promotes the translation of imaging research to enhance human health. Established in 1995, it was the catalyst for creating the National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering, for accelerating investment in vital imaging research areas by other NIH institutes, and for building support for radiology and imaging in Congress and the Executive Branch.
Duerk also is the Leonard Case Professor of Engineering, director of the Case Center for Imaging Research and a professor in the departments of biomedical engineering and radiology. He is an advocate of multidisciplinary research and has spent 25 years working with scientists, engineers, physicians and students to develop new MR imaging techniques that facilitate immediate clinical utilization to improve patient care.
His work has a strong emphasis in expanding the role of MR imaging into new applications including image guided procedures, rapid imaging, analysis and compensation of the effects of motion in MRI, topics in intravascular coil development, signal processing aspects of MR, and more recently in the development of Interventional MRI. Duerk has authored more than 180 peer-reviewed papers, has 15 patents and has graduated more than a dozen PhD students.
The awards were presented at a ceremony in Chicago on Nov. 26.