Elias Zerhouni, a radiologist, has distinguished himself as one of the most influential medical imaging researchers of his generation through his work on high-resolution densitometry and functional CT imaging, as well as quantitative MRI imaging of the cardiovascular system and cancers. He held senior positions in the American university hospital hierarchy, before being appointed Director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH, 2002-2008). He is considered one of the most influential figures in US medical research. A professor at Johns-Hopkins University and a consultant to a number of organizations, he works to speed up the process of translating basic research into applied research and treatments.