Around 90 participants from across the Asia-Pacific region and beyond gathered in Sydney, Australia, on 6-7 July 2026 for the first Asia-Pacific Workshop on Medical Radioisotopes. Co-organised by the Nuclear Energy Agency (NEA) and the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO), and hosted at the University of New South Wales (UNSW), the workshop brought together representatives from government, regulatory authorities, healthcare, research organisations and industry to discuss how to strengthen the medical radioisotope ecosystem across the region.
Medical radioisotopes play an essential role in diagnosing and treating diseases, particularly cancer. While molybdenum-99/technetium-99m (Mo-99/Tc-99m) remains the most widely used diagnostic radioisotope globally, advances in radioligand therapy (RLT) and theranostics are driving growing demand for therapeutic radioisotopes such as lutetium-177 (Lu-177), actinium-225 (Ac-225), astatine-211 (At-211) and lead-212 (Pb-212). Against this rapidly evolving landscape, participants explored the opportunities and challenges facing Asia-Pacific countries as they seek to expand access to advanced nuclear medicine while ensuring reliable and resilient isotope supply.
Opening the workshop, NEA Director-General William D. Magwood, IV highlighted the transformative potential of advances in nuclear medicine. Radioligand therapy and theranostics are opening new possibilities for treating cancers that only a few years ago had limited therapeutic options, with hundreds of clinical trials underway worldwide. He emphasised that ensuring sufficient supply of key radioisotopes will be essential if these innovations are to reach patients at scale, and pointed to the Asia-Pacific region as an important opportunity to build the international collaboration needed to anticipate and address future demand.
Discussions throughout the two-day workshop highlighted the importance of considering medical radioisotopes as part of a broader ecosystem. Reliable patient access depends not only on isotope production, but also on processing capacity, transport and logistics, regulatory frameworks, healthcare infrastructure, specialised workforce, radiological protection and waste management. Participants exchanged national and regional perspectives on these interconnected challenges, while examining opportunities to strengthen conventional Mo-99/Tc-99m and PET supply chains and scale up the production and use of emerging therapeutic radioisotopes. The programme also addressed healthcare system readiness, education and workforce development, and the policy and governance frameworks needed to support sustainable growth in nuclear medicine.
A recurring theme was the diversity of the Asia-Pacific region. Countries are at different stages in developing their nuclear medicine capabilities and face different geographical, economic and regulatory conditions. At the same time, discussions demonstrated the significant progress underway across the region and a shared ambition to expand patient access to advanced diagnostic and therapeutic technologies. Participants emphasised that stronger regional co-operation, knowledge exchange and co-ordinated action can help address supply vulnerabilities, develop specialised capabilities and ensure that innovation translates into improved patient outcomes.
The workshop concluded with a forward-looking discussion on international co-operation, governance and policy for resilient isotope supply. Participants underlined that no single country or organisation can address these challenges alone. Continued collaboration among governments, producers, regulators, healthcare professionals, researchers, industry and international organisations will be essential to build a sustainable medical radioisotope ecosystem capable of responding to growing demand.
As the NEA's first region-specific workshop dedicated to medical radioisotopes, the Sydney meeting provided a new platform for dialogue and collaboration across Asia and the Pacific. The discussions reflected both the rapid progress taking place in nuclear medicine and the work still needed to strengthen supply chains and healthcare capacity. Building on the momentum generated in Sydney, the NEA will continue working with partners across the region to support international co-operation and help ensure that advances in nuclear medicine ultimately translate into greater access for patients.
