Institute of Nuclear Sciences Applied to Health distinguished by the International Agency for Atomic Energy

English version: Diana Taborda

The International Atomic Energy Agency has acknowledged the work carried out by the Institute of Nuclear Sciences Applied to Health (ICNAS) of the University of Coimbra (UC) as the first Collaborating Centre in the area of radiopharmaceuticals research and production. The distinction took place during an international symposium on radiopharmaceuticals held in Vienna between the 18th and the 21st of April.

During the session, the Portuguese Ambassador to Austria Miguel Almeida e Sousa, who is also the Permanent Representative of Portugal to the United Nations, stated that ICNAS is a success story, highlighting the role of the UC institute in supporting the efforts of the International Atomic Energy Agency to promote the safe and peaceful use of nuclear technologies.

The role of ICNAS as a training institute was also highlighted at the event. In recent years, the Institute of Nuclear Sciences Applied to Health has received 62 trainees from 18 countries, and has participated in 19 missions in South America, Africa and Europe.

Antero Abrunhosa, director of ICNAS, believes that this recognition " proves the high quality of the Institute's work, which has become a world reference in the area of radiopharmaceuticals in little more than 10 years".

The Institute of Nuclear Sciences Applied to Health was appointed a Collaborating Centre of the International Atomic Energy Agency in September 2020. ICNAS has just reached production number 10,000 of its radiopharmaceuticals.

“The International Atomic Energy Agency is the world's central intergovernmental forum for scientific and technical co-operation in the nuclear field. It works for the safe, secure and peaceful uses of nuclear science and technology, contributing to international peace and security and the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals.” – https://www.iaea.org/