International Symposium on Trends in Radiopharmaceuticals (ISTR-2019)

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The INDICO platform has been going through some technical problems since last week. Due to these issues, the deadline for submission of abstracts has been extended to 08 April 2019.

Progress in nuclear medicine has been always tightly linked to the development of new radiopharmaceuticals and efficient production of relevant radioisotopes. The use of radiopharmaceuticals is an important tool for better understanding of human diseases and developing effective treatments. The availability of new radioisotopes and radiopharmaceuticals may generate unprecedented solutions to clinical problems by providing better diagnosis and more efficient therapies.

Impressive progress has been made recently in the radioisotope production technologies owing to the introduction of high-energy and high-current cyclotrons and the growing interest in the use of linear accelerators for radioisotope production. This has allowed broader access to several new radionuclides, including gallium-68, copper-64 and zirconium-89. Development of high power electron linacs resulted in availability of theranostic beta emitters such as scandium-47 and copper-67.  Alternative, accelerator-based production methods of technetium-99m, which remains the most widely used diagnostic radionuclide, are also being developed using both electron and proton accelerators.

Special attention has been recently given to α-emitting radionuclides for in-vivo therapy. A few years ago, the first α-emitting radiopharmaceutical, Xofigo, (pharmaceutical-grade radium-223 dichloride solution) has been approved by the US FDA for cancer treatment. Many other α-emitting radiopharmaceuticals based on astatine-211, bismuth-212, bismuth-213, actinium-225, radium-223, lead-212, thorium-227 and terbium-149, are currently being developed. However, demand for these α-emitting radionuclides significantly exceed their supply. Numerous research groups worldwide are working on efficient production of these much sought after α-emitters.

The field of radiopharmaceuticals has witnessed continuous evolution thanks to the immense contributions of scientists from diverse disciplines such as radiochemistry, inorganic chemistry, organic chemistry, organometallic chemistry, biochemistry, molecular biology, physiology and pharmacology. Several milestones can be cited in the trajectory of this growth, which include continuing development of technetium-99m radiopharmaceuticals, automated synthesis of fluorine-18 labelled compounds, radiopharmaceuticals labelled with generator eluted gallium-68, labelled peptides and monoclonal antibodies for accurate diagnosis and treatment of tumours. The concept of theranostic radioisotopes, that combines the diagnosis and therapy properties of one radioisotope or a pair of similar radioisotopes, may provide an attractive paradigm for future development of medical applications of radionuclides. Biomolecules developed for specific molecular target and labelled with theranostic radionuclides provide clinically significant information for diagnosis, suitability of radionuclide therapy, dosimetry and post therapy planning, making personalised medicine a reality.

Purpose and Objectives

The International Symposium on Trends in Radiopharmaceuticals, ISTR-2019, will provide scientists and professionals working in the fields of production of radioisotopes and radiopharmaceuticals an international forum for discussing the most recent developments in the field. Various topics will be covered during the Symposium including development, production, and uses of diagnostic, therapeutic, and theranostic radioisotopes and radiopharmaceuticals, as well as regulatory and licensing issues related to their production.  Education, certification and training methodologies will also be addressed.

The ISTR-2019 will provide a great opportunity for chemists, biologists, pharmacists, physicists, medical researchers, and other experts in the international community to meet and discuss their most recent work. This meeting will help maintain existing and establish new collaborations to address common problems and expand the worldwide use of radiopharmaceuticals.

Structure, Themes and Topics

The symposium programme will consist of an opening session, plenary sessions, technical sessions, poster and interactive content sessions, exhibitions, and a closing session. The opening session will include welcoming addresses by representatives of the IAEA, cooperating organizations and other relevant organizations. The plenary sessions will continue with a combination of invited keynote presentations and submitted papers addressing the main themes and topics of the symposium. Each topical session will include presentations and/or panel discussions delivered by participants which will have been selected based on the abstracts submitted. The symposium will also include poster sessions, and sufficient time will be provided for discussion and interaction with colleagues. The final plenary session on the last day of the symposium will be dedicated to conclusions and recommendations on the way forward.

The scope of the conference is meant to cover, but is not limited to, the following topical areas:

• Production of PET- and SPECT-based diagnostic, therapeutic and theranostic medical radioisotopes
• Production of radionuclide generators
• Production of PET- and SPECT-based diagnostic, therapeutic and theranostic radiopharmaceuticals
• Research and Development related to the production of medical radioisotopes and radiopharmaceuticals
• Quality control and quality assurance of medical radioisotopes and radiopharmaceuticals
• Pre-clinical evaluation of radiopharmaceuticals
• Good Manufacturing Practices for production of medical radioisotopes and radiopharmaceuticals
• Design of radiopharmacy (industrial, hospital and centralized) facilities
• Health regulatory aspects related to the production of radiopharmaceuticals
• Radiopharmacy Chapter in Pharmacopoeias

Education, including e-learning, certification and training methodologies for professionals involved in radiopharmacy.

Audience

The target audience for this Symposium comprises, but is not limited to: (radio)chemists, (radio)pharmacists, biologists, physicists, technologists, medical researchers, policy makers and health regulators, educators and other professionals working in the fields of production and uses of medical radioisotopes and radiopharmaceuticals. The IAEA welcomes and encourages the participation of individuals from developing countries, women, and early career professionals including students.

Registration and Grants

No registration fee is charged. Limited funds are available to assist certain participants. Approved grants will usually cover only part of the cost of attendance.

Language

The symposium will be in English. No interpretation will be provided.

Key Deadlines

• 31 March 2023: Submission of abstracts (including Forms A and B)
• 31 March 2023: Submission of grant applications (Form C)
• 31 May 2023: Notification of acceptance of abstracts
• TBD: Submission of full paper.

Proceedings

We hope to have this available for free download by September 2020.

Exhibitions

A limited amount of space will be available for displays/exhibits during the symposium. See the Announcement and Call for Papers under Related Resources on this page.

Greening

To demonstrate its commitment to sustainability, the IAEA will organize this conference as a 'green meeting' according to the guidelines of the Austrian Ecolabel.

There will be a focus on the areas of paper smart documentation, waste reduction and recycling, and environmentally friendly catering.

Conference app

The IAEA Conferences and Meetings App provides a one-stop access to information on the Conference, exhibitions and scheduled side events. The app also allows users to put together their own personalized schedule of events. Via this app participants will be able to view contributed papers and the latest conference programme, message other participants, and view PowerPoint presentations released after the event. Participants will receive an email inviting them to register for the app approximately one week before the conference.

For iPhone or iPad users, get your free download through the Apple iTunes Store; those with Android devices can visit the Google Play Store.