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Medical Nuclide Techniques - 120p (ECTS)

Master Degree in Medical Nuclide Techniques,
120p (ECTS-credits), where the second year is
focused on radiochemistry.

Note! There is also an option to only study the
first year and receive a Degree of Magister, 60 p.

First year
• Radiation Protection and Medical Effects, 6 hp
• Nuclide Production and Radiochemistry, 9 hp
• Detection Techniques and Dosimetry, 12 hp
• Good Manufacturing Practice, GMP, 6 hp
• Nuclide Diagnostics and Therapy, 12 hp

• Project Work, 15 hp

Second year
• Labelling Chemistry and Compound Development, 30 hp

• Project Work, 30 hp

The medical applications using radionuclides are of increasing importance. Tomographic techniques such as PET (positron emission tomography) and SPECT (single photon emission computed tomography), in combination with CT and MR, and the use of radionuclides for tumour therapy require highly specialised education. Radionuclide based techniques are foreseen to also be important in the development of gene- and immunotherapy.

Uppsala University has for many years been world leading in the area and this front-line education meets the increasing demand of nuclide technique educated physicians, academy level nurses and assistants, pharmacists, physicists, biologists and radiochemists.

The methods to diagnose and treat diseases are improving in the modern health care. The PET/CT image shows a sagittal view of the 68Ga-octreotide spatial distribution in a patient with a neuroendocrine tumour in the pancreatic head, a lymph node metastasis below the primary tumour and a liver metastasis. The uptake of 68Ga-octreotide in tumour tissue is high because of the high expression of somatostatin receptors in the tumour cell membranes. Image provided by Prof. Anders Sundin, Uppsala University, and Uppsala Imanet AB. Thus, radiolabelled tracers show the distribution of disseminated cancer cells. Radionuclide based methods can also be used to selectively irradiate and kill disseminated cancer.

During the program, the students learn about most important aspects on the use of radionuclides for diagnosis and treatment. The courses cover aspects on radiation biology, radiation protection, nuclide production, detection techniques, dosimetry, good manufacturing practise (GMP), pharmacology, imaging as support for surgery, immuno- and gene therapy, radionuclide therapy and, especially during the second year, labelling chemistry and compound development. The education is qualifying for a position as radiochemist at a nuclear medicine laboratory, research laboratory or other relevant places within the academic, hospital or industrial world.

Who can apply?

The program is suitable for students with a university degree corresponding to at least three years of full time studies within:

• Medicine or Pharmacy
• Academy level of nursing or other similar health care educations
• Physics or Radiophysics
• Chemistry, Biology or other Laboratory Sciences
• Other relevant university educations

The program is also suitable for students that plan for a research career within a relevant area. The courses within the program can be attended separately from the programme if positions are available. For details of the formal requirements, please contact the Student Counsellor (see address below).

Pertuzumab (Omnitarg®), an antibody against HER-2 domain II, was labelled with the beta emitter 177Lu for experimental therapy of a HER-2 positive transplanted tumour. The upper picture of the radionuclide uptake in the flank tumours was taken with a gamma camera. The tumour received more than five times the radiation dose to blood, and more than seven times the dose to any normal organ. [177Lu]pertuzumab increased the time to tumour progression in comparison to various controls as shown in the lower picture. Images provided by Ph.D. Mikael Persson, Uppsala University.

Courses within the program:

(short description of each course)

First year
• Radiation Protection and Medical Effects, 6p
• Nuclide Production and Radiochemistry, 9p
• Detection Techniques and Dosimetry, 12p
• Good Manufacturing Practice, GMP, 6p
• Nuclide Diagnostics and Therapy, 12p
- Pharmacology
- Imaging as Support for Surgery, Immuno- and Gene Therapy
- Radionuclide Therapy
- Clinical Applications
• Project Work, 15 p
After first year: Degree of Magister in Medical Nuclide Techniques (60p).

Second year
• Labelling Chemistry and Compound Development, 30 p
- Peptides and Macromolecules
- Low Molecular Weight Compounds
- Research Seminars
• Project Work, 30 p
Master degree in Medical Nuclide Techniques (120p) (the “Radiochemistry Education”).

Note: One week of full-time studies is equal to 1.5p. Thus, one semester of studies, 20 weeks, will be equal to 30p.

General information

Many courses include practical exercises, which limit the number of participants to 20. University departments at the University Hospital, the Biomedical Centre and the Rudbeck Laboratory, all situated at Uppsala University and being near to each other, give the education. The Lecturers come from several university and clinical hospital disciplines such as Biomedical Radiation Sciences, Nuclear Medicine, Diagnostic Radiology, Clinical Physiology, Pharmacy, Clinical Immunology, Radiophysics, Organic Chemistry, Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Tumour Biology.

We also have an extensive collaboration with the biomedical and pharmaceutical industry, for example Uppsala Imanet AB, GE Healthcare, AstraZeneca AB and Affibody AB, and some of our invited Lecturers hold leading positions in the industry. The Department of Oncology, Radiology and Clinical Immunology is responsible for the administration and education design in collaboration with relevant departments and lecturers. General information is also available at www.uu.se (go to “English” and then to “Education”).

Education

The programme starts once a year, at the end of August. The education is given as lectures, literature seminars, laboratory demonstrations and laboratory exercises. Separate courses in the master programme can be applied for, and attended, if positions are available. All courses are held in English.

Schedules containing dates and times are found at: www.bms.uu.se

Application

All applications to Master Programmes Taught in English at Swedish universities will be online through the national website: www.studera.nu/English

Last date for application is January 15 each year. Please, also notify, via e-mail, the Director of Studies (see below) that the application is submitted.

If you are interested to have more information about the program please contact: