By Mélisande Rouger
In an era where medical progress hinges on collaboration, coordination, and credibility, one organisation has quietly built a model of excellence at the crossroads of research and policy: the European Institute for Biomedical Imaging Research (EIBIR).
Founded in 2006 by the European Society of Radiology, its impact on European imaging science is both deep and enduring. Two decades after its creation, it stands as a unique, non-profit research platform, supporting radiologists and imaging scientists as they navigate the complex terrain of European funding.
“We make research possible,” says Professor Regina Beets-Tan, Scientific Director of EIBIR.
From Support Structure to Strategic Force
EIBIR was designed to address a clear gap: the need for a dedicated infrastructure to help researchers compete for and manage large-scale research projects in biomedical imaging in Europe. Since then, it has helped secure over €207 million in EU funding across 42 projects, 12 of which are currently ongoing.
Its role is multifaceted: providing internal scientific review through its scientific advisory board, advising how to improve the project proposal, helping shape proposals to deliver a high quality applications to Brussels.
“We help researchers from the preparation and submission phase, to the project management and dissemination of the results,’’ Beets-Tan explains. ‘’The success of a project starts long before submission, helping ensure the proposal is aligned with EU research priorities, scientifically strong, and operationally feasible.”
An Accelerator for Radiology-Led Research
Historically, radiology has not always been at the forefront of European multi-country projects. Research in technology development and optimization, yes—and this has contributed to the success of imaging. But large scale outcome studies to prove its benefit for patient outcomes have not always been the focus of imaging research.
EIBIR is helping shift that narrative.
By supporting radiologists as principal investigators and fostering collaborations across disciplines—including clinical disciplines, data science, pathology, laboratory medicine—EIBIR is strengthening the specialty’s research identity in Europe.
“Radiologists must be at the heart of clinical research,” Beets-Tan insists. “Not just as imaging providers, but as co-leaders in evidence generation.”
ECR 2025: A Visible Platform
At this year’s European Congress of Radiology (ECR), EIBIR’s strong presence reaffirmed its consistent commitment to the field. Seven dedicated sessions, the launch of another series of joint ESR/EIBIR seed grants for young researchers, the new Pixel Pandemonium – an exhibition offering a unique platform to explore the latest advancements in AI-driven medical imaging- and a vibrant EIBIR booth showcasing abstract presentations of young researchers confirmed the organisation’s evolution into a true research catalyst.
“The enthusiasm was incredible,” Beets-Tan recalls. “In some sessions, there were more data scientists than radiologists. That kind of multidisciplinary energy is exactly what we need.”
Flagship Projects: SOLACE and EUCAIM
EIBIR currently coordinates several high-impact flagship initiatives under the Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan.
SOLACE is a pan-European project on lung cancer screening. The project has launched lung cancer screening pilot projects in several member states and is creating toolkits, guidelines, and a lung cancer screening knowledge hub. The final results will be presented in early 2026 at a major European cancer screening policy summit.
In parallel, EUCAIM, the flagship activity of the European Cancer Imaging Initiative, is laying the technical groundwork for AI in cancer imaging, by establishing a federated European infrastructure. With more than 45,500 subjects already included, the infrastructure will allow training, validation and benchmarking of AI tools on a curated, cross-border scale.
“These projects are not abstract science,” Beets-Tan says. “They are tangible platforms that will redefine imaging and AI integration in clinical practice.”
Next Step: Implementation and Policy
EIBIR’s focus has expanded from coordination to implementation. A new four-year project will test how AI tools can be deployed responsibly across healthcare settings—from hospitals to general practice. This follows the actions as defined in the widely endorsed EU health policy platform Joint statement on “Advancing precision medicine for Europe’s cancer patients with AI powered imaging”, led by ESR in collaboration with the EUCAIM consortium.
The approach is ambitious, but realistic: identify obstacles, develop deployment guidelines, and validate them in diverse clinical environments.
“It’s not enough to build AI,” Beets-Tan says. “We must understand how to bring it to patients, ethically and effectively.”
Strategic Vision: The Research Agenda
To sustain its impact, EIBIR is finalizing an updated Strategic Research Agenda, structured around six core priorities: AI, emerging technologies, hybrid imaging, integrated diagnostics, quality and safety, and multidisciplinary research. This document, developed with its Scientific Advisory Board, will guide both internal strategy and external advocacy.
“It’s not just a research strategic roadmap for the coming years,” Beets-Tan explains. “It’s a voice. It tells policymakers where imaging science needs to go—and how Europe should invest.”
A Unique Model in Global Imaging
What makes EIBIR exceptional is its positioning: a scientific platform grounded in clinical practice yet deeply embedded in policy and systems thinking. Unlike commercial research organisations, EIBIR is non-profit, mission-driven, and firmly aligned with European public health goals.
“There are trial units in research institutes and private companies offering coordination services,” says Beets-Tan. “But EIBIR is the only long-standing platform created by a scientific society, dedicated to imaging research across Europe.”
Looking Ahead
As it turns 20 next year, EIBIR is not slowing down. On the contrary, it is preparing to lead a new generation of imaging research—more collaborative, more connected, more policy-driven than ever.
Its success lies not in headlines, but in impact. And as Europe seeks more efficient, patient-centered and data-driven healthcare systems, EIBIR is already there—shaping the future, one project at a time.
Regina Beets-Tan, Professor of Radiology is the Scientific Director of the European Institute for Biomedical Imaging research (EIBIR), former Chair of the Board of Directors of the European Society of Radiology (ESR) and former president of the European Gastrointestinal and Abdominal Radiology and of the European Society of Oncologic Imaging. She is also a former member of the board of the EU Mission for cancer and of the board of the European Cancer Organisation.
About EIBIR:
The European Institute for Biomedical Imaging Research is a non-profit organization founded by the ESR, representing the medical imaging field through 8 additional shareholders – CIRSE, COCIR, EANM, EFOMP, EFRS, EORTC, ESMRMB, ESPR and EuSoMII. EIBIR is the quality label for biomedical imaging research in Europe. Its mission is to support the development of biomedical technologies, and to bring researchers from different disciplines together to collaborate and help them navigate through the landscape of EU-funding and secure funding.