RESEARCH ACTIVITY ON THE RADIOPHARMACEUTICAL PRODUCTION WITH CYCLOTRON

The center daily produces radiopharmaceuticals for clinical use as: [18F]FDG, [18F]FColina, [18F]FDOPA and [18F]FET. Furthermore, an intense research activity is focused on the production of new radiopharmaceuticals and several clinical trials have been conducted, such as studies on the evaluation of the efficacy of [18F]FES, [68Ga]GaPSMA, [18F]FPSMA and [124I]INa.

The development of new processes for the production and purification for non-conventional radionuclides, namely zirconium-89, iodine-124, manganese-52, copper-61 and terbium-155, has led to new fields of application of radiopharmaceuticals like ImmunoPET (combination of monoclonal antibodies and long-lived radionuclides such as zirconium-89).

Several collaborations, finalized for the development of new radiopharmaceuticals, radionuclides and training of national and international students are already in place. Students from the University of Verona, Ferrara and Padova participate actively in research projects, performing thesis work in different areas of interest. Furthermore, an active scientific collaboration with the Institute of Nuclear Physics of Legnaro (INFN-LNL) is in place, as well as with the main pharmaceutical companies. Based on these research activities, patents on radiopharmaceuticals of chemical and engineering interest have been registered. Every year, numerous foreign students and operators are welcomed, in collaboration with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), performing a period of traineeship and for the creation of new strategies of radiopharmaceutical production.

Dr Emiliano Cazzola is IAEA expert and member of the Expert Group n. XIV (Radiopharmaceutical Preparation) of the European Pharmacopoeia at the EDQM (European Directorate for the Quality of Medicines & Healthcare).