Laboratory for radioisotopes of the Vinca Institute of Nuclear Sciences in 2020 has received grants from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and Deutcher Akademischer Austauschdienst (DAAD) for development and production of radiopharmaceuticals for cancer diagnosis and therapy.

TC IAEA project 2020-2021.: "Strengthening of national capacities for the production of radiopharmaceuticals in the Republic of Serbia"

During many years of scientific research, in cooperation with nuclear medical centers in the country and abroad, a large number of radiopharmaceuticals that are used in diagnostics and therapy, has been developed in the Laboratory for radioisotopes. Nowadays, the Laboratory for radioisotopes is a unique center in the Balkan region, registered by the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Serbia, for the production of radiopharmaceuticals. Thousands of patients receive Vinča's radiopharmaceuticals in various diagnostic and therapeutic procedures, per year.

In order to continuously improve equipment and working conditions, as well as to train employees, the Laboratory for radioisotopes is participating in a project entitled "Strengthening of national capacities for the production of radiopharmaceuticals in the Republic of Serbia". This project, worth 183.000 EUR, was obtained in cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency and the Serbian Radiation and Nuclear Safety and Security Directorate, and its realization is planned for the period 2020-2021. The project is intended to modernize and improve the equipment and conditions for the development of ⁹⁹Mo/^99mTc generator for obtaining of ^99mTc in the form of sodium pertechnetate, according to novel EU standards. A wide range of sodium pertechnetate applications include scintigraphy of thyroid gland, brain, salivary glands, gastrointestinal tract, while ^99mTc labeled compounds are used for scintigraphy of various organs and tissues, cancer and myocardial infarction. The leader of the project is Marko Perić, PhD, Research assistant

Radiopharmaceutical production in the Laboratory for radioisotopes

DAAD Project 2020-2021: "Bioconjugated Magnetic Nanoparticles Designed for Multimodal Cancer Therapy"

Within the project cycle 2020/2021 of the Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Development of the Republic of Serbia and Deutcher Akademischer Austauschdienst, the Laboratory for Radioisotopes together with the Laboratory for Theoretical and Condensed Matter Physics and Chemistry Department of the University of Cologne, received a project worth 20,000 EUR, entitled: "Bioconjugated magnetic nanoparticles designed for multimodal cancer therapy." The project is a continuation of research on joint national and international projects aimed at the production of multifunctional magnetic nanoparticles for use in combined radionuclide-hyperthermia therapy. Synergistic effect of two therapeutic modalities is the possible way of overcoming the low sensitivity, specificity and efficiency of routinely applied procedures.