05/29/2026
Awardee Spotlight π
Interview with 2025 Seed Grand Awardee Dr Milan Vecsey-Nagy
How did the grant impact your career?
The Seed Grant came at a very important point in my career. I had been working on photon-counting CT and coronary plaque imaging for several years, and we had started to see that this technology may not simply improve image quality, but may also change how quantitative plaque measurements should be interpreted. The grant gave me the opportunity to build a focused research project around that question and to pursue it in a more rigorous way. For me, it was an important step from describing what is different about a new technology to asking how it can be used reliably in clinical research and, eventually, patient care.
How did NASCI impact your career?
Having trained in Hungary and then continued my research training in the United States, NASCI became an important professional community for me. It provided an environment where early-career investigators could present their work, receive meaningful feedback, and connect with people working on similar questions in cardiovascular imaging. It was also particularly inspiring to meet and learn from many of the pioneers and leading figures in the field whose work had shaped my own interests. Being involved with NASCI helped me feel that my research had a place within a broader scientific community, and that has been very motivating.
Why do you think others should apply for this yearβs award?
Early-career research often begins with a good question and preliminary observations, but turning these into a rigorous and feasible study can be challenging. The NASCI Seed Grant is particularly valuable because it supports exactly that transition, while also encouraging applicants to think more broadly about how their work can grow beyond the initial project. In that sense, the application process itself is excellent preparation for developing future larger-scale and national grant proposals. At the same time, the Seed Grant is a meaningful opportunity in its own right: it provides practical support and recognition from a society that understands the challenges of building an academic career in cardiovascular imaging.
What would you say to encourage early-career members to submit an application?
Do not wait until you feel that your idea is perfect or that you have every detail solved. A focused question, a realistic plan, and the willingness to do the work are a strong starting point. For me, applying was an opportunity to take a question that had emerged directly from our own research and turn it into a structured project with the potential to meaningfully improve how we use a new imaging technology.
Apply today for the 2026 NASCI Seed Grant Program at https://nasci.memberclicks.net/seedgrant2026