Competences for medical applications of nuclear science

Workshop report with conclusions and recommendations

Following on the dynamic built by the initiative on medical applications of nuclear science launched by former Commissioner Mariya Gabriel at the beginning of 2023, the Joint Research Centre (JRC) gathered relevant stakeholders for a workshop on 24th October 2023 at the JRC site in Petten to discuss “Competencies for Medical Applications of Nuclear Science”. This followed the first workshop, organised on 27 April 2023 at JRC Ispra on the translation of radiotheranostics cancer research into clinical practice in Europe.
The objective of this second workshop was to address the nucle¬ar competences and skills required to sustain medical applications of nuclear science throughout their life cycle. The promotion of dialogue and collaboration among stakeholders, as well as syner¬gies between initiatives at EU level and across Member States were dis-cussed. The need to perform National nuclear workforce assessment for hu¬man resources supply and to promote interdisciplinary education & training schemes building skills in the nuclear medical area have been identified.
With a participation of around 80 stakeholders from the academia, the industry, researchers, health professionals with different expertise in clinical practice, as well as EU Member States representatives, this workshop discussed the current challenges impacting the availability of appropriate competences to enable the medical applications of nuclear science. It aimed to identify the gaps in the demand and offer of skilled workforce and to define critical areas where action is needed.

Based on the discussion, the following recommendations were made by the stakeholders:
1. The need for coordination at European level for information related to nuclear education and training for health professionals.
2. The European Commission can host discussions for a community of training institutions to discuss and exchange on training audiences, gaps and needs, interoperability and accreditation.
3. Possible creation of an EU network of training institutions across EU Member States.
4. Education providers and existing education platforms need to join forces and collaborate to expand their learning content to cover the needs.
5. Regulators of pharmaceutical and nuclear fields should be encouraged to meet and discuss the interface between their mandates
6. Endorsement of European-level accreditation or a recommended, gold standard model of education and training in radiation protection by the professional societies EANM, EFOMP, EFRS, ESR, ESTRO.

GOULART Margarida; HOLZWARTH Uwe ; MARABEAU Gwladys; LAUWERS Guillaume

2024-05-02

Publications Office of the European Union

JRC137512

978-92-68-15382-6 (online)

OP KJ-02-24-487-EN-N (online)