BACKGROUND

The Centers of Quantitative Imaging Excellence (CQIE) program was developed in response to a solicitation for proposals issued in December 2009 by SAIC-Frederick on behalf of the National Cancer Institute (NCI).  The primary objective of the CQIE Program is to establish a resource of ‘trial ready’ sites within the NCI Cancer Centers Program that are capable of conducting clinical trials in which there is an integral molecular and/or functional advanced imaging endpoint.  In support of this objective, the CQIE program is designed to qualify sites in the following quantitative imaging methodologies:

BRAIN IMAGING	BODY IMAGING
Volumetric MR	Volumetric CT
DCE-MR	DCE-MR
Static and Dynamic PET-PET/CT	Static and Dynamic PET-PET/CT

The CQIE Program was developed with input from and collaboration with the broader scientific community including experts associated with ACRIN, AAPM, SNM and RSNA/QIBA.  Participating cancer centers will undergo an initial qualification assessment and then annual requalification for an additional 3 year period. The qualification requirements include annual phantom scans, clinical test images (MR and PET), and a standardized set of routine QC activities.

Currently, CQIE participation is open only to NCI-designated Cancer Centers.


ANNUAL RENEWALS

2011    T0 (Baseline) qualifications, 58 cancer centers qualified in all three modalities.
2012    T1 qualification renewals have concluded.
2013    T2 qualification renewals are in progress.