On January 14, representatives from the CancerThera CEPID visited the Nuclear and Energy Research Institute (IPEN), located at the University of São Paulo, in the city of São Paulo, with the objective of learning about the institution’s facilities and exploring possibilities for scientific and technological collaboration.
The CancerThera research delegation was received by chemical engineer and IPEN superintendent, Dr. Isolda Costa, along with researchers Dr. Wilson Aparecido Parejo Calvo and Dr. Elaine Bortoleti de Araújo, a materials engineer and a pharmacist-biochemist, respectively. The visit focused on understanding IPEN’s infrastructure and fostering dialogue between researchers from both institutions. Regulatory aspects and licensing of new products based on nuclear technology were also discussed.
A promising cooperation
“We aim to establish cooperation in the production of radiopharmaceuticals for research purposes, thereby developing important projects in the field at reduced costs. We also seek to collaborate in the training of graduate students,” explained Dr. Carmen Silvia Passos Lima, oncologist and hematologist, professor at the School of Medical Sciences at the University of Campinas (FCM/Unicamp), and principal investigator at CancerThera. She also highlighted the potential of this partnership to advance the production of theranostic radiopharmaceuticals, benefiting cancer patients in Brazil and worldwide.
“The meeting was excellent; we had many ideas, points of convergence, and discussions,” said Dr. Carmino Antonio de Souza, onco-hematologist, professor at FCM/Unicamp, and lead researcher at CancerThera. “We visited production, quality control, and research laboratories, including the radiopharmacy, which resembles one of our projects in partnership with Amazul,” he noted. Among the topics discussed, he highlighted the possibility of cooperation in the supply of Lutetium and Samarium radioisotopes, the latter being a more affordable option for treatments provided by Brazil’s Unified Health System (SUS).
Dr. Celso Dario Ramos, nuclear medicine physician, professor at FCM/Unicamp, and principal investigator at CancerThera, also evaluated the visit positively. “IPEN is impressive for its infrastructure and its tradition in the nuclear field in Brazil. We identified key common areas for potential interaction and joint work. We can help them advance projects already in progress, and, in return, they can significantly contribute to those we will carry out at CancerThera,” he said.
Dr. Luciana Malavolta Quaglio, radiochemist, professor at the Faculty of Medical Sciences of Santa Casa de São Paulo, and principal investigator at CancerThera, reinforced the mutual enthusiasm from this promising future collaboration. “IPEN is the main public producer and supplier of radioisotopes and radiopharmaceuticals in Brazil. This visit opened doors to very fruitful cooperation between the institutions.”
As a next step, IPEN representatives plan to visit CancerThera’s facilities at Unicamp, in Campinas (SP), to see firsthand some of the laboratories and the radiopharmacy recently inaugurated at the Unicamp Clinical Hospital, where researchers are conducting their investigations.
Text: Romulo Santana Osthues | Photos: Carmen Silvia Passos Lima and personal collection
