Tomsk Polytechnic University has joined a project to create an international laboratory in the field of nuclear medicine and radiopharmaceuticals – this is a joint Russian-Chinese project. An agreement on the planned establishment of a laboratory was signed today at the IV Forum on Investment Development and Trade-Economic Cooperation between the Regions of China and Russia. It is taking place these days in the city of Shenyang, and a delegation from the Tomsk region is participating in the business program.

From the Russian side, Tomsk Polytechnic University and the Tomsk National Research Medical Center of the Russian Academy of Sciences (Tomsk National Research Medical Center) participate in the project. From the Chinese side, the participating institutes are the Shanghai Institute of Applied Physics of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the Liaoning Institute of Industrial Technology. Dmitry Son, Vice-Rector for General Affairs, participated in the signing on behalf of TPU.

"Russia and China are strengthening cooperation in many areas of science and technology today, including radiopharmaceuticals – compounds based on radioactive isotopes for the therapy and diagnosis of complex diseases. Our countries have developments across the full range of medical isotopes. Nevertheless, each country has its own unique technologies, the exchange of which can improve the quality of medical care provided to patients. Tomsk Polytechnic University currently has about 20 radiopharmaceuticals in its portfolio of developments, some of which are already approved for medical use and are actively used in clinics of Siberia and the Far East. Together with itscolleagues from the Tomsk National Medical Research Center, with the support of the national project, we are developing a line of fundamentally new domestic theranostic drugs and isotope production technologies. “In this regard, Russia has a serious scientific base that our Chinese colleagues need,” — says Leonid Sukhikh, acting Rector of Tomsk Polytechnic University.

The agreement provides for joint research and development of radiopharmaceuticals, clinical trials, formation and development of a nuclear medicine industry cluster, personnel training, and academic exchanges. The laboratory is planned to be established as early as next year, 2027.

"The creation of a new laboratory is another step towards the development of interdisciplinary research and international scientific cooperation with our Chinese colleagues. We have accumulated a rather serious "portfolio" of achievements: for example, Tomsk researchers have already developed a good glucose-based drug for visualizing brain tumors. Researchers at the Tomsk National Medical Research Center, in collaboration with colleagues from TPU, are creating theranostic molecules that are labeled with different (diagnostic or therapeutic) radionuclides and allow for the visualization and destruction of tumors. We hold a priority in the development of theranostic drugs for the diagnosis and treatment of one of the most aggressive breast cancers. "I am convinced that our cooperation experience and the combination of competencies of Russian and Chinese researchers will allow us to create new radiopharmaceuticals, promptly implementing developments into clinical practice", — emphasized Vadim Stepanov, Director of the Tomsk National Research Medical Center, member of the Russian Academy of Sciences.

The main radiopharmaceuticals production facility at TPU is the university's research nuclear reactor.

The TPU research reactor is also a unique educational platform. Currently, this is the only active nuclear facility in Russia where foreigners can be trained. We have specialized international master's programs in nuclear medicine that are in demand by partner states. "We are training specialists who can create new drugs and work at existing production facilities," notes Leonid Sukhikh.