From Isotope to Patient: Connecting the Radiopharmaceutical Value Chain

How can promising advances in radiopharmaceutical research reach clinical application?

At the Radiopharmacy Forum Dresden 2026, experts from science, industry, healthcare and policy explored the technologies, infrastructure and partnerships needed to advance the development of radiopharmaceuticals.

Held on 7–8 October 2026 and hosted by the Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR), the forum brought together stakeholders from across the radiopharmaceutical value chain. Under the theme “From Isotope to Patient – Where the Radiopharmaceutical Value Chain Meets”, discussions addressed challenges ranging from isotope production and radiopharmaceutical innovation to clinical translation, regulation and market access.

Why the entire value chain matters

Radiopharmaceuticals are opening new possibilities for precision diagnostics and targeted cancer treatment. By combining radioactive isotopes with molecules that target specific biological structures, they can help visualise disease processes or deliver radiation directly to affected tissue.

However, translating scientific advances into medical applications requires more than promising research results.

Reliable isotope production, specialised facilities, radiopharmaceutical development, clinical expertise and regulatory processes must work together. The short half-lives of many medically relevant radionuclides make coordination between production, processing and clinical use particularly important.

The Radiopharmacy Forum Dresden provided an opportunity to examine these interconnected challenges from different perspectives.

Accelerator technologies as an enabler

Particle accelerators play an important role in producing radionuclides for medical applications. Advanced research infrastructures also provide capabilities for developing and investigating new approaches in radiopharmaceutical research.

“The different perspectives on isotope production, including those shared by DANTE Fusion and Theraneutronics Technologies, highlighted a clear need: Europe must expand its accelerator-based production infrastructure to secure a reliable supply of radionuclides.”

— Melanie Giebel, Hi-Acts

At HZDR, the connection between research infrastructure and industrial application is already established. One example is the collaboration with ROTOP Radiopharmacy GmbH, which uses the TR-Flex cyclotron to produce iodine-123 for diagnostic applications.

Such partnerships demonstrate how existing research infrastructure can contribute to reliable isotope supply and practical medical applications.

Connecting expertise, infrastructure and industry

For Hi-Acts, radiopharmacy is a field in which connecting scientific capabilities with industrial needs can make a tangible difference.

Through access to accelerator-based technologies, specialised infrastructure and expertise across five Helmholtz centres, Hi-Acts supports collaboration between research organisations and companies seeking to develop new technologies and applications.

The Radiopharmacy Forum Dresden, organised in connection with the growing nukliD radiopharmacy ecosystem, highlighted the importance of bringing together the different stakeholders involved in translating radiopharmaceutical innovation into clinical practice.

From isotope production to patient care, progress depends on connecting the right expertise at the right stage.

Explore opportunities with Hi-Acts

Are you developing radiopharmaceutical technologies or looking for specialised research infrastructure and scientific expertise?

Discover how Hi-Acts can connect you with suitable research partners and accelerator-based capabilities through Hi-Acts Connect.