A domestic radionuclide supply for the UK?
THE future supply of radionuclides in the UK for use in cancer diagnostics and therapeutics has been discussed at an event hosted by IPEM.
The roundtable event convened by IPEM, together with the Royal College of Radiologists and the Society of Radiographers, brought together a host of like-minded organisations, charities, academics, and nuclear and cancer experts to discuss the growing issue of radionuclide supply in the UK.
In recent years, the strength of the UK supply of radionuclides has been called into question for a variety of reasons, including the UK’s departure from the EU, the war in Ukraine, and the decommissioning of reactors in Europe.
Attendees at the meeting included representatives from the Regional Centre for Endocrinology and Diabetes, the British Thyroid Association, Neuroendocrine Cancer, Prostate Cancer UK, the Institute of Cancer Research, AXREM, Siemens, the British Thyroid Foundation, Bangor University, QM Radionuclides for Health UK, King's College London, the National Cancer Research Institute and the British Nuclear Medicine Society.
Coalition
The meeting discussed the challenges facing supply and the possibility of forming a coalition to campaign for the development and implementation of a domestic supply of radionuclides in the UK.
All parties at the meeting agreed the political environment is currently ready and receptive to this issue, with the Government recently publishing its Life Sciences Vision, and imminently due to publish the 10-Year Cancer Plan.
Dr Robert Farley, IPEM's President, said: 'This is a very important issue for the future of cancer diagnostics and therapeutics and has huge consequences for patients across the country.
'I'm delighted IPEM, along with the RCR and SoR, has taken the lead to bring together such a wide-ranging group of organisations and industry partners to take this issue forward.'
If you are interested in contributing to discussions on this issue, or in joining the coalition, contact IPEM's retained agency Inflect Partners at radionuclides@inflect.co.uk