Dive into the cutting-edge world of nuclear medicine with this comprehensive course that blends theory and hands-on practice. In this one-week course, you will gain invaluable knowledge and skills at the forefront of medical imaging and targeted radiopharmaceutical therapies.
This course offers a unique opportunity to:
- Master the fundamentals of radiation physics and biology
- Explore state-of-the-art diagnostic and therapeutic applications in oncology and neurology
- Gain practical experience handling radiopharmaceuticals in a laboratory setting
- Understand the latest developments in personalised medicine using radioactive tracers
Upon completing the course, you will be allowed to handle radiopharmaceuticals and open radioactive sources at Karolinska Institute and Karolinska University Hospital.
The student should be able to:
- Account for and explain radiation is, how it can be visualised using (pre)clinical techniques, how radioactive particles interact with matter and what the effects are of this interaction
- Account for and explain the latest developments in the field of nuclear medicine
- Give examples of how radiopharmaceuticals can be used for the diagnosis and therapy of patients with oncological and neurological illnesses (Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, other)
- Demonstrate up-to-date knowledge of radiation safety rules and waste handling
- Demonstrate the required practical skills for handling radiopharmaceuticals and other open radioactive sources
- Demonstrate the ability to analyse the purity of radiopharmaceuticals using simple radioanalytical techniques
- Describe the possibilities and limitations of using radiopharmaceuticals for personalised medicine
Basic knowledge of biochemistry, pharmacokinetics/-dynamics, cancer and neurodegenerative diseases is expected. The following short online modules on radiation safety will need to be completed before the start of the course (link will be provided to all course participants): ‘Introduction to radiation protection’, ‘Radioactive Isotopes’ and ‘Open radioactive sources’. These online modules take 1 hour or less each. The module ‘Radioactive Isotopes’ also includes an in-person lecture, however, this lecture is part of the course – so the lecture does NOT need to be attended prior to the course.