The Role of Medical Imaging in Clinical Research

Medical imaging is crucial for scientific research, and radiologic technologists who aspire for a career in research must understand the scientific process, the types of studies conducted, and the requirements for conducting a study. The role of radiologic technologists in a research setting differs from their role in the clinical setting, and additional training might be required. Many U.S. imaging research centers have state-of-the-art equipment, and the modalities they most often use include magnetic resonance, computed tomography, nuclear medicine, sonography, interventional radiology, and fusion modalities. Research studies that use medical imaging provide insight into the scientific research process and how this research affects patient care.