Trends in Industry-Sponsored Research Payments to Radiologist Principal Investigators

Industry-sponsored research payments (hereafter research payments) play an important role in the advancement of the medical sciences. Recent analysis of the Open Payments program (OPP) demonstrated that research payments are increasingly dispersed through noncovered entities (NCEs) across specialties. It is unknown how research payments are distributed to radiologists. The aims of this study were to assess trends in research payments to radiologists between 2015 and 2024 and to characterize payments distributed through NCEs.

A retrospective analysis of research payments in the OPP was performed, and payments accepted by radiologist principal investigators at NCEs were analyzed. Linear regression and descriptive statistics were used to examine annual payment trends.

Between 2015 and 2024, 57,772 research payments totaling $824.2 million were accepted by 2,963 radiologists. Annual payments increased 50%, driven by a 44% increase in payments to NCEs (P < .01). At NCEs, median payments per principal investigator increased from $13,718 (interquartile range: $3,623-$53,795) to $24,350 (interquartile range: $5,500-$80,720) (P < .001). In 2024, male radiologists received 88% ($58.8 million) of NCE payments, a 54% increase (P < .01). Five manufacturers accounted for 40.4% of total research payments to radiologists.

Research payments to radiologists have increased significantly because of increases in payments to NCEs, concentrated among a select group of radiologists. When transparent and appropriately managed, NCEs represent valuable partnerships improving patient care, yet further research remains imperative to understand changes in research funding pathways.