2024-2025 / CHIM0621-2

Production and application of radioelements

Duration

15h Th, 3d FW

Number of credits

 University certificate in radiopharmacy - long training3 crédits 
 University certificate in radiopharmacy - short training3 crédits 
 Master in physics, research focus2 crédits 
 Master in physics, teaching focus2 crédits 
 Master in physics, professional focus in medical radiophysics2 crédits 

Lecturer

Thibault Gendron

Language(s) of instruction

French language

Organisation and examination

Teaching in the second semester

Schedule

Schedule online

Units courses prerequisite and corequisite

Prerequisite or corequisite units are presented within each program

Learning unit contents

Modern nuclear medicine relies extensively on the use of radioactive molecules, both for diagnosis and therapy. The radioactive atoms used in these substances are not naturally occuring and must therefore be industrially produced. This course aims at teaching you the basic notions of this very specific topic that is the producation of radionuclides.

Course outline:

  • Introduction - Radioactivity in Medicine
  • Basics of radioactivity and nuclear reactions
  • Production by cyclotron: 11C, 18F, 68Ga
  • Production by generator: 68Ga, 99mTc
  • Production in nuclear reactors

Learning outcomes of the learning unit

At the end of this course, you will have a better understanding of the whole radiopharmaceutical production pipeline. You will know the general methods to produce radionuclides. The main aim of this lecture is to give you the skills and knowledge to be able to discuss and understand physicists, cyclotron engineers and radiochemists in your future employment as a radiopharmacist or physicist.

Prerequisite knowledge and skills

Basic general knowledge in chemistry, at least A-level, preferably bechelor level.

Planned learning activities and teaching methods

A guided tour of the Centre de Recherche du Cyclotron (B30) will be given to visualize in real life the different production methods (subject to availability).

Mode of delivery (face to face, distance learning, hybrid learning)

Face-to-face course


Additional information:

The lecture will be given in-person; if required and justified, a video conference link may be created to ensure access to the lecture to everyone.

This course has 15 hours delivered during the second semester

Course materials and recommended or required readings

Lecture presentations are accessible online on myULiege. Slides will be made available at the begining of each chapter.

For further reading material, please have a look at the following books (these are NOT mandatory for the course):
Medical Isotope Production Without Highly Enriched Uranium, National Research Council, 2009, ISBN 978-0-309-13039-4. Available free of charge at http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=12569

Radiopharmaceutical Chemistry, J. S. Lewis, A. D. Windhorst, B. M. Zeglis, Springer Nature, 2019, ISBN 978-3319989488

Chimie des radiotraceurs et applications biologiques, M. Comet et M. Vidal. EDP Science, 1998, ISBN: 2-86883-460-4

Exam(s) in session

Any session

- In-person

oral exam

Written work / report


Additional information:

The final examination will be an oral presentation on a topic relevant to radionuclides production. The class will be divided in groups of 2-4 and each group will choose a topic amongst a list given by the lecturer. An abstract, written both in French and English, as well as a group presentation will be assessed.

Work placement(s)

Organisational remarks and main changes to the course

Contacts

Thibault Gendron, t.gendron@uliege.be

Bât. B30 Centre de Recherche du Cyclotron
Quartier Agora
allée du Six Août 8
4000 Liège 1

Please note that my office is located in a controlled area with access restricted to authorized personal only; you will not be able to pop-up in my office without due appointment. Please send me an email instead, I will gladly respond within 72 hours. If need be, I will then organize an in-person meeting to discuss the matter.

Association of one or more MOOCs