What is the Interagency Council?

The Interagency Council on Biomedical Imaging in Oncology brings together representatives of the Federal Government and technology developers to expedite the process of bringing new products to market.

Government officials on the Council represent three Department of Health and Human Services agencies:

• National Cancer Institute (NCI)
• Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
• Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS)

Why should you consider presenting to the Council?

Success in bringing a new biomedical imaging technology to market hinges on the following:

• Evidence of improved clinical outcomes
• FDA approval
• Benefit and coverage decisions by Medicare

The Council's representatives from NCI, FDA, and CMS can help you prepare to meet these criteria for success. You will receive advice from a multi-agency perspective on the spectrum of scientific, regulatory, and reimbursement issues related to developing your imaging device or technology. Presenting to the Council is…

• Free*
• Confidential
• Easy

Who is eligible?

Any business or any academic investigator developing a device or technology relevant to biomedical imaging in cancer may submit a request to present. Small businesses are encouraged to apply.

How can you apply to present?

Simply fill out the one page Request to Present form ( Word format, PDF format) and fax to Paula Jacobs at 301-480-3507 or submit the necessary information in an email to jacobsp@mail.nih.gov. You will receive an acknowledgment of receipt in approximately one week. Within 30 days, the Council will let you know about acceptance of your request.

Note: PDF documents can be viewed by anyone with Adobe Acrobat Reader. Download the free Adobe Acrobat Reader

When is the deadline?

Requests are due on February 9th for the next Council meeting on March 9th, 2010, from 8:30 AM to 12:30 PM and on September 19th for the following meeting on October 19th, 2010. The 2011 meetings are scheduled for March 8, 2011, and October 18, 2011, with requests due 1 month in advance.

What happens during Council sessions?

A presenter typically meets with the Council for approximately an hour for an informal discussion. The focus is on answering the presenters' questions. The proceedings are confidential. At the end of the session, the Council summarizes the main issues and recommends a potential action plan. The Council will send a written summary of the session within a month.

What kinds of technologies have been presented?

Technologies presented in the past have included:

1. Computed tomography (CT) and combination instrumentation
2. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)/magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS)- various instrument strengths from 1.5 Tesla to 12 Tesla.
3. Ultrasound
4. Optical imaging
5. Nuclear medicine both single photon and positron emission tomography (PET)
6. Molecular imaging agents
7. Image guided therapy
8. FDA approval pathways
9. CMS approval and funding

How can you find out more?

For further information, please contact:

Paula Jacobs, Ph.D.
Council Coordinator
Office of the Associate Director
Cancer Imaging Program
Division of Cancer Treatment and Diagnosis
National Cancer Institute
301-435-9181 tel
301-480-3507 fax
jacobsp@mail.nih.gov