Nuclear medicine
During the last 50 years the cluster members have pursued an integrated approach to the problems associated with the development of nuclear medicine. Kaluga region has accumulated unique experience both in diagnosis and treatment of oncological diseases using radiological technologies and in the development of new therapeutic agents – radiopharmaceutical generators. Territorial consolidation of scientific, diagnostic, therapeutical and industrial infrastructure allowed implementing a number of unique projects in the field of nuclear medicine.
The cluster competences in the field of nuclear medicine are concentrated in the leading scientific centers located in the Kaluga region:
- AO GNTS RF-FEI
- AO NIFHI named after L.Ya. Karpov
- Scientific Medical and Radiological Centre named after A.F. Tsyba – a branch of FGBU IMIRTS of the Ministry of Health of Russia.
AO NIFHI named after L.Ya. Karpov has unique technologies and provides industrial deliveries to domestic and foreign consumers of medical radionuclides, radiopharmaceuticals and medical equipment.
In the area of nuclear medicine AO GNTS RF-FEI produces radioisotopes, radiopharmaceuticals, radiation sources and has a fund of highly enriched stable isotopes. The manufacturer has licenses to possess, use and transport radioactive substances, to produce medicines, and it operates within the frames of ISO-9001 quality management system. In 2015, GNTS RF-FEI specialists launched a new and unique for Russia and also the best-in-class worldwide charged-particle accelerator TANDETRON. The accelerator will be used in a large variety of areas both scientific and industrial.
The accelerator will help to develop medical technologies for remote neutron therapy for radioresistant malignant tumors in the Kaluga region. The institute has already created and tested a special device to generate high-intensity neutron beams. Using both the device and the accelerator at the same time will allow performing cancer surgeries. The accelerator will make it possible to carry out radiobiological experiments on pulsed beams to determine the biological effect dependence on extremely large values of dose rates. Also, the accelerator will be used to produce short-lived isotopes for existing and developing positron emission tomography centers in the central region of Russia.
A Scientific Medical and Radiological Centre (SMRC) named after A.F. Tsyba – a branch of FGBU IMIRTS of the Ministry of Health of Russia – contributed immensely to develop this area of the cluster activities. This Center has all facilities required to train staff for nuclear medicine - educational, scientific, laboratory, experimental, production and clinical.
Each year the SMRC named after A.F. Tsyba provides treatment for more than 8000 patients, over 70% of the total number of patients are cancer patients. The SMRC named after A.F. Tsyba has developed and applied new and highly effective medical technologies many of which are unique and unparalleled.
The SMRC named after A.F. Tsyba is the only scientific institution in the country which:
- conducts comprehensive studies to examine biological effects of ionizing and non-ionizing radiation at the molecular, cellular, organ and organism levels using modern technologies;
- develops and employs radiological methods of diagnostics and treatment of patients, the newest knowledge-intensive medical technologies that can accelerate the resolution of a number of socially important health issues in Russia.
The cluster members have managed to produce greater synergies in joint research and development. For instance, NNRU MEPhI became the principal contractor under a public contract “The development of 99mТс, 68Ga and 188Re-based radiopharmaceuticals for efficient diagnosis and treatment for prostate cancer patients” performed within the framework of the federal targeted program “Research and development in leading areas of science and technology in Russia for 2014- 2020”. Associate contractors are the following members of the cluster: FGBU IMIRTS of the Ministry of Health of Russia and AO NIFHI named after L.Ya. Karpov.
Another significant joint project undertaken by the cluster members was presented at the stand of the Ministry of Industry and Trade of the Russian Federation within the framework of the international exhibition – PHARMTECH – as the best example of cooperation in the development and use of the rhenium generator – W-188/Re-188 – for cancer treatment, production of ophthalmic applicators for contact radiation therapy of eye cancers and I-125 microsources for brachytherapy. This project is implemented by AO GNTS RF-FEI with the participation of AO NIFHI named after L.Ya. Karpov. The developments are applied at the Center of brachytherapy treatment for prostate cancer within FGBU IMIRTS of the Russian Ministry of Health.
Production of domestic microsources by the cluster members to which there was virtually no alternative so far allowed to provide Russian clinics with the required radiopharmaceuticals and significantly reduce the cost of surgeries.