The Netherlands is a global leader in nuclear medicine, and this field is rapidly expanding. To maintain its leadership position, realize the potential of technology for patients, and better use its economic value, it is crucial to enhance the innovation capacity and profitability of the Dutch ecosystem for nuclear medicines. To achieve this goal, the initiators of DECISIVE (Dutch medical isotopes save lives) aim to utilize resources from the National Growth Fund (NGF).

A significant growth is anticipated in the use of medical isotopes for diagnosing various conditions and treating oncological diseases. There is a wide range of tracers under development for application across diverse medical conditions, with numerous clinical studies underway to confirm their effectiveness.

These innovations are primarily developed within academia and further advanced for everyday application by larger (often foreign) companies. For instance, Novartis from Switzerland has brought to market Lutetium-177-dotatate developed in Rotterdam, while Terumo from Japan has commercialized Holmium-166 microspheres developed at UMC Utrecht. In addition, in September 2023, it was decided to invest in the construction of a new research reactor (PALLAS) for the production of medical isotopes, the NRG FIELD-LAB recently opened its doors, and SHINE has plans to establish a nuclear medicine campus in the northern Netherlands.

DECISIVE’s ambition is to collaboratively shape the ecosystem of nuclear medicine with all stakeholders, aiming to strengthen the Dutch ecosystem’s global leadership position. Various stakeholders are involved in DECISIVE, and in preparation for the quick scan as part of the NGF process, close collaboration has occurred with the Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport’s program management for Medical Isotopes. Following positive feedback from the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO) after the quick scan, the initiators now intend to work closely with stakeholders to further develop the (pre-)application for the NGF.

This ambition aligns with FAST’s mission and intersects with several FAST themes, such as rare diseases, personalized medicines, medical isotopes, innovative methodologies, and academically-driven development. Therefore, in mid-January, FAST, together with the Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport and the initiators of DECISIVE, organized an informational meeting on this NGF application in preparation.