Funding opportunities in endoscopic imaging research.

Advances in gastrointestinal endoscopy have greatly enhanced the clinicians' ability to diagnose and treat many digestive disorders. During the last 30 years, some new therapeutic endoscope techniques have become the standard of care, and other newer evolving technologies are being evaluated. Despite these endoscopic advances, there has been expressed concern that federal funding of endoscopic research has lagged behind other evolving technologic and scientific discoveries. This article provides an overview of the background of one federal agency's attempt to engage the endoscopy community in the research enterprise through a variety of mechanisms of career development, grant support, and endoscopic research and development.