In a significant initiative for research on radiopharmaceuticals and metallopharmaceuticals, CEPID CancerThera and the Brazilian Center for Research in Energy and Materials (CNPEM) are strengthening their cooperation. During a visit to CNPEM on March 31, researchers from both institutions discussed, in a two-part working meeting, opportunities for scientific collaboration in the development of products based on nuclear technology and proton radiotherapy. The advancement of the partnership between CancerThera and CNPEM may represent a major step toward innovations in the fields of Radiopharmacy, Nuclear Medicine, and Oncology.
“CancerThera has a strategic and relevant goal for the health field, which is the development—from basic to clinical research—of drugs and radiopharmaceuticals for the diagnosis and treatment of cancer. CNPEM has complementary competencies in the area of drug development from biodiversity and the development of proton accelerators with potential applications in radioisotope production, as well as unique infrastructure in the country, such as the Sirius particle accelerator,” explains Dr. Antônio José Roque da Silva, physicist, professor at the Institute of Physics at the University of São Paulo and general director of CNPEM.
The sessions were attended by researchers, managers, and directors from CNPEM’s Technology, Portfolio, and National Biosciences Laboratory (LNBio) departments, who engaged in dialogue with principal and associate researchers from CancerThera.
Promising cooperation
Dr. Celso Dario Ramos, nuclear physician, professor at the School of Medical Sciences at the University of Campinas (FCM/Unicamp), principal investigator and deputy executive director at CancerThera, expressed a very positive impression from the meeting. “Several cooperation proposals have already emerged. Soon, we may initiate research projects of mutual interest for both institutions,” he said. Among the projects discussed were the development of new drugs and the potential implementation of a proton accelerator for research and clinical applications.
Dr. Carmino A. de Souza, onco-hematologist, professor at FCM/Unicamp, lead researcher and executive director at CancerThera, also emphasized the importance of this growing partnership: “One of the key points is this closer relationship with fundamental institutions in the nuclear and radiopharmaceutical development fields.” According to him, CNPEM’s infrastructure offers ideal conditions for significant progress in developing radiopharmaceuticals essential to cancer theranostic research—an approach in Nuclear Medicine that combines diagnosis and therapy, personalizing cancer patient care.
Souza also highlighted the scale and production capacity of CNPEM. “For us at CancerThera, it’s a strong motivation, as these collaborations open up new possibilities not only in research but also, eventually, in the future, in supporting patient care,” he said.
CNPEM’s general director confirms: “This closer relationship between the two institutions may bring great benefits to society—not only due to its potential impact on healthcare but also in training human resources in areas of importance to Brazil.”
Text and photos: Romulo Santana Osthues
