Nuclear medicine has seen many new developments in recent years that have changed the field. Traditionally, nuclear medicine was mainly concerned with diagnostics. Developments in new radiopharmaceuticals have led to a shift towards therapy. Experts expect that the use of radiopharmaceuticals will increase in the coming years and that, in addition to their use in diagnostics, nuclear medicine will become more involved in therapy and therapy development, including for cancer treatment. These developments provide a good basis for making the Netherlands a hotspot for nuclear medicine in Europe. To reap the full benefits for the Netherlands and Dutch patients, it is important that these initiatives are embedded in a broader, national innovation ecosystem for nuclear medicine.

The impact we want to realise from FAST is the faster and smarter development, production and availability of new therapies for patients in a way that is future-proof, sustainable and affordable. In FAST’s podcast, we delve into topics where FAST sees the Netherlands can excel. In this new three-part series, we look at nuclear medicine.

This podcast is available in Dutch only.

Nuclear medicine in daily practice
In the first episode of this series, we look at the many applications of nuclear medicine in daily practice. What are these applications and how do these applications make an impact in the daily lives of patients, doctors and other users of the technology? Which applications are currently under development and what does it take to start using these applications?
With Johan Klunder (patient perspective), Andor Glaudemans, Professor of Nuclear Medicine at UMC Groningen and president of NVNG and Tessa Aminetzah of Tracer CRO, we address these questions. Listen to this episode now !

Fully benefiting from nuclear medicine
What are the strengths of the nuclear medicine innovation ecosystem? Are they the high-quality – and in some ways even unique – facilities, the international connection and reputation, or the quality of the research conducted? Although Dutch research in nuclear medicine is strong, the valorisation of this research and its translation into further stages of clinical trials is low. With Chiel Scholten of Technopolis Group, we discuss their analysis of the field. Together with the Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport’s medical isotopes quartermaster Wim Oyen and Mart-Jan Blauwhof of the Nuclear Medicine Branch Association, in this second episode, we discuss how to overcome these bottlenecks in order to fully exploit the potential.

The Netherlands as a future hotspot for nuclear medicine
In the previous episodes, we discussed the opportunities (and challenges). In this final episode, we discuss what initiatives are in place to capitalise on these opportunities. Bart Cornelissen Associate professor at UMG Groningen, talks about the DECISIVE initiative. Currently, the Netherlands has a strong position internationally in the production of medical radioisotopes with NRG’s existing HFR reactor. However, the HFR is nearing the end of its lifetime. In 2023, the Dutch government therefore decided to invest in PALLAS, a new research reactor for the production of medical radioisotopes, Karlijn van den Schilden of NRG talks about this development. These developments provide a good foundation for making the Netherlands a hotspot for nuclear medicine in Europe, Marlous Kooijman of FAST talks about the opportunities for collaboration and the impetus given to this field.