The 22nd European Symposium on Radiopharmacy and Radiochemistry (ESRR 2026) in Bergen, Norway (April 16-19, 2026) reinforced the critical role of radiopharmaceutical chemistry and production technologies in advancing theranostic nuclear medicine. With approximately 300 participants representing the European radiopharmacy and radiochemistry community, the symposium provided crucial insights into emerging priorities directly aligned with IFIGENEIA’s mission.
Advances in Radionuclide Production Technologies
Radionuclide production technologies emerged as a central theme throughout ESRR 2026. The “back-to-basics” educational session on reactor production of radionuclides provided comprehensive coverage of current production methods, while scientific sessions highlighted novel approaches to isotope generation. This production-focused perspective directly validates IFIGENEIA’s development of LINAC-based accelerator production as a complementary pathway to conventional cyclotron and reactor methods, particularly for addressing supply chain vulnerabilities in medical radioisotopes.
Radiopharmaceutical Development and Regulatory Challenges
The symposium addressed key scientific directions, including small protein-based radiopharmaceuticals, emerging C-11 and F-18 radiochemistry techniques, and tumour microenvironment targeting beyond FAPI. These themes align with IFIGENEIA’s emphasis on flexible production platforms capable of supporting diverse radiopharmaceutical development pipelines across both diagnostic and therapeutic applications.
Regulatory frameworks and good manufacturing practice (GMP) requirements were addressed through a dedicated Pharmacopeia Corner session, emphasising practical challenges in bringing novel radiopharmaceuticals from bench to bedside. IFIGENEIA’s integrated approach – combining isotope production with radiopharmaceutical development and clinical translation pathways – directly addresses these translational challenges.
Education and Capacity Building in Europe
The joint ESRR-EANM session on radiopharmaceutical education highlighted critical skills gaps across Europe. The panel featured a presentation of the CAS in Radiopharmacy/Radiopharmaceutical Chemistry program, with Module I taking place in Slovenia and coordinated by an IFIGENEIA consortium member. This educational dimension aligns with IFIGENEIA’s commitment to capacity building and knowledge transfer across Europe.
Strengthening Europe’s Radiopharmaceutical Ecosystem
Overall, ESRR 2026 provided a focused view of the radiopharmaceutical production and chemistry landscape that will shape Europe’s capacity to meet growing theranostic demands. The symposium’s intimate scale enabled in-depth technical discussions and knowledge exchange essential for advancing radiopharmaceutical science.
Members of the IFIGENEIA consortium participated in ESRR 2026, with representatives from the Faculty of Medicine, University of Ljubljana (Slovenia) and the National Centre for Scientific Research “Demokritos” (Greece) presenting work on the hospital survey conducted within the IFIGENEIA project.
