A delegation from the expert mission of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), together with employees from the Department for International Cooperation and Project Management of SRBATOM, visited the Vinča Institute as part of the evaluation of regional technical cooperation projects in the field of nuclear medicine, funded by the IAEA.

Projects were presented in the Laboratory for Radioisotopes and the Laboratory for Radiation Protection and Environmental Protection.

Dr. Sanja Vranješ-Đurić, Head of the Laboratory for Radioisotopes, and Dr. Marko Perić, Project Leader, presented the results of the project "Strengthening the National Capacities for Radiopharmaceutical Production". IAEA experts expressed particular satisfaction with the unique implementation approach of the project, which leveraged the multidisciplinary nature of the institute to develop the infrastructure for handling radioactive materials, as well as a specialized device for the automated production of radioactive drugs. This innovation will enable a significant reduction in radiation doses received by operators not only within the production laboratory at the institute but also in other smaller production centers.

Dr. Miloš Živanović, representative of the Laboratory for Radiation Protection and Environmental Protection, highlighted that the projects "Upgrading of Calibration Service for Medical Applications of Ionizing Radiation" and "Strengthening Calibration Services at the Secondary Standard Dosimetry Laboratory for Radiotherapy Applications" focus on enhancing calibration services in diagnostic radiology and radiotherapy. He emphasized that the institute is the designated holder of national standards in the field of ionizing radiation and that these projects have facilitated the registration of the first measurement capabilities in the database of the International Bureau of Weights and Measures (BIPM).

The project outcomes are of critical importance for ensuring the quality of radiological services in Serbia, improving radiotherapy techniques, and aligning with international standards.

The long-standing collaboration between researchers from these two laboratories and nuclear medicine centers has been elevated to a higher level through the implementation of IAEA project results, which will contribute to significant advancements in the field of nuclear medicine in the Republic of Serbia