Centra Foundation Awarded $450,000 Grant to Expand Advanced Heart and Vascular Imaging

Funding from the Al Stroobants Foundation will support expanded access to next-generation diagnostic imaging technology.

LYNCHBURG, VA, February 3, 2026 – Centra Foundation is pleased to announce it has received a $450,000 grant from the Al Stroobants Foundation to support cardiac PET/CT services at Centra Lynchburg General Hospital. The grant supports an over $4.2 million commitment from the Centra Foundation to fund the technology and renovations to existing spaces to house the equipment.

The investment will improve access to advanced cardiovascular imaging and enable faster testing and assessment, marking a significant step forward in diagnosing and treating coronary artery disease (CAD) and other cardiovascular conditions.

“Adding a cardiac PET/CT scanner will greatly benefit patients and our community,” said Thomas Meyer, MD, director of cardiac imaging, Centra Medical Group Heart & Vascular Institute. “The PET/CT has emerged as the state-of-the-science diagnostic tool for coronary artery disease. It is the gold standard for cardiac nuclear imaging.”

This will be the first dedicated cardiac PET/CT scanner in the region and the second PET/CT scanner at Centra, which is located in Centra Alan B. Pearson Regional Cancer Center. It is expected to be ready for use later in 2026.

Heart disease remains the leading cause of death in the U.S. and is a major cause of disability. CAD remains the most common form of heart disease. Centra is nationally recognized for award-winning heart and vascular care. Centra Lynchburg General Hospital was recently named one of the nation’s top 100 hospitals for heart attack care and has earned significant recognition, including 10 consecutive platinum awards from the American College of Cardiology.

The Al Stroobants Foundation was founded in 2006 by the late Alphonse Stroobants, a Lynchburg philanthropist and businessman who founded the production machinery manufacturer Belvac. Centra Medical Group Stroobants Cardiovascular Center Lynchburg is named in his honor.