May 20 is World Metrology Day, commemorating the anniversary of the signing of the Metre Convention back in 1875. The theme for 2024 is Metrology for Sustainability, reflecting the way that traceable and accurate measurement is a key enabler for a sustainable growth.

We are pleased to invite you to our upcoming workshop on Metrology for Sustainability. This year, the workshop is organised by SMD FOD Economie in partnership with SCK CEN (Belgian Nuclear Research Centre) and it will be held on May 24, 2024, from 9h00 to 17h00 at the Lakehouse of SCK CEN, Boeretang 200, Mol 2400, Belgium.  

A visit of four laboratories related to dosimetry and radioactivity measurements will take place in the afternoon. The laboratory visit requires registration before 26 April 2024.

The poster session is open to presentations of experimental techniques, data acquisition, sensors, applications related to the leading topic of sustainability. If you would like to contribute with a poster please indicate it in the registration form.

The workshop will focus on the role of metrology in enabling sustainable development and the circular economy. It will feature presentations and discussions on how the Belgian network of national standards laboratories realize today’s references and what we are putting in place for tomorrow. The workshop will also provide an opportunity to engage in discussions and exchange knowledge with other stakeholders.

The draft workshop agenda is detailed here. You can register to the event through this link. Participation is free. Don’t forget to mention if you would like to visit the laboratories (registration deadline is 26 April 2024).

We look forward to your participation in this important event!

Venue: Lakehouse of SCK CEN (Belgian Nuclear Research Centre), Boeretang 201, Mol 2400, Belgium.  The Lakehouse is accessible for general public. The laboratory visits need access to restricted areas. Free public parking is available on site. Information on how to reach SCK CEN site can be found here: https://www.sckcen.be/en/contact/how-get-sck-cen-mol.  

Description of the laboratories:

• Laboratory for Nuclear Calibrations (LNK) The Laboratory for Nuclear Calibrations (LNK) provides accurate and consistent calibrations of dosemeters and irradiations of samples assuring the traceability of the measurements to the international standards. LNK is the Designated Institute (DI) for the metrology of ionising radiation in Belgium. It maintains and develops standards for metrology of ionizing radiations and contributes to the dissemination of the international standard units to the end users. LNK offers calibrations and irradiations with γ-rays, X-rays, neutrons (²⁵²Cf, Am-Be) and β-particles.  It also offers the calibration of ionisation chambers for radiotherapy (Farmer type chambers) and nuclear medicine (radionuclide calibrators) departments of hospitals. A new building dedicated only to LNK, with modern equipment is in use since 2021. https://www.sckcen.be/en/calibrations
• Low-level Radioactivity Measurements laboratories (LRM) The Low-level Radioactivity Measurements laboratories employ advanced radiometric methods to analyze radioactivity, including gamma-ray spectrometry, alpha particle spectrometry, liquid scintillation counting, and gross alpha and beta counting utilizing ZnS and proportional counters. Additionally, we employ emanometry for precise determination of ²²²Rn and ²²⁶Ra at minimal levels in liquid samples. Equipped with cutting-edge sample dissolution and radiochemistry separation techniques, our laboratories ensure accurate analysis across various matrices. Most of our analyses hold ISO 17025 accreditation. Our services primarily focus on environmental radioactivity monitoring, radiotoxicological assessments, waste product and radioactive effluent analysis, NORM evaluation, as well as food, feed, and research project analyses. https://www.sckcen.be/en/LRM
• Personal Dosimetry laboratory (DOS) Strengthened by our research group, the Dosimetry Laboratory (DOS) offers services for both SCK CEN and external companies like hospitals, veterinary practices, industrial companies,…. The laboratory is ISO 17025 accredited and approved by FANC as official dosimetry service. The services include the offer of personal dosimeters for the measurement of H_p(10) and H_p(0.07) for exposed workers as well as ring dosemeters, eye lens dosemeters and environmental dosemeters. Techniques in use are thermoluminescence, optically stimulated luminescence as well as direct ion storage technology. https://www.sckcen.be/en/expertises/health/dosimetry
• Anthropogammametry laboratory (AGM) is monitoring the internal contaminations by gamma-ray spectrometry. Workers are requested to be measured at a frequency depending on their activities and an associated risk analysis. Appropriate detectors (NaI and HPGe) installed in five dedicated low background measurement rooms form a unique infrastructure in Belgium for the direct measurement of internal contaminations. Whole Body Counting, Lung Counting or the measurement of thyroid activity is done in routine for SCK CEN as well as for external customers.

The Symposium is intended for:

• Researchers and professionals active in the subfields of interest;
• European and Belgian health authorities and regulators;
• Radioisotope distributors and related transport companies

Général

The 9th Symposium on Medical Radioisotopes intends to:

• Provide information on the perspectives of the world production of medical radioisotopes during the years to come;
• Discuss challenges of the transport and distribution processes including safety, security, transparency and prompt delivery;
• Present breakthroughs in radiopharmacy and nuclear medicine;
• Introduce new industrial and research initiatives.

Sujets

Save the date for the next BELNUC Seminar: The power of Artificial Intelligence in Nuclear Medicine – Join the Learning Session!

It will take place on 01/06/2024 at UC Louvain/Saint-Luc.

Registration is now open! – Click here to register now!

Program

Moderators: Nadia Witthofs and Victor Nuttens

• RIZIV/INAMI: has granted 3.0 CP
• FANC/AFCN:
  • has granted 1u00 voor Nuclearisten RX
  • has granted 1u00 voor Gemachtigden NG RX

Format of this session : The ‘expert’ will provide an introductory talk of 15-20 minutes to describe the state of the art referring to existing guidelines. Then, a team of nuclear medicine residents will challenge the expert with questions on this topic supported by real life data, clinical cases or local experience. 

4 Grants : All recipients will receive a complementary EANM congress registration and €1000 travel allowance. 

Eligibility criteria :  

• Nuclear medicine resident in training (3rd, 4th or 5th year). 
• Member of BELNUC in order of payment by April 30, 2024.
• Submit a personal statement/motivation letter. 
• Submit an interesting and unpublished image with a 150-word abstract. 
• Submission deadline : Wednesday 15 May 2024 12:00 CET. Application should be sent to office@belnuc.be 

Selection procedure :  

All applicants are invited to present their case on June 1st after the Belnuc seminar (details will follow later). 

Results will be announced by the Belnuc president by email mid June 2024. 

The BELNUC Association has now upped their Social Media presence by creating a BELNUC LinkedIn account.

Take a look at our LinkedIn profile to keep yourself up-to-date and enjoy some interaction within the BELNUC community!

Click here to get to the BELNUC LinkedIn!

The renewal for the BELNUC 2024 Membership is now available on the myBELNUC platform!

Further information regarding the membership like membership types, membership fees or advantages of being a BELNUC member can be found on our BELNUC Membership page.

Login to your myBELNUC account and renew your membership today to continue to benefit from your BELNUC membership!

Save the date for the next annual BELNUC General Assembly and Seminar: 24/02/2024 at the KUL campus (9:00 – 12:30).

• Venue: KUL Leuven, Code Parking 7655#, auditorium GA1 located at Onderwijs & Navorsing 1.

Click here to register!

The annual BELNUC General Assembly and Seminar is kindly supported by Von Gahlen.

Von Gahlen is a state-of-the-art manufacturer of shielding solutions for nuclear medicine and radiopharmacy. We offer standard and custom-built hot cells along with a wide range of auxiliary equipment for hot labs. With Von Gahlen you can be assured of safe solutions, a reliable partnership, and a lasting relationship.

Seminar topic: PET in hematological Malignancies:

The last fifteen years have been marked by the harmonization of interim and end-of-treatment PET/CT interpretation criteria in lymphoma (Deauville scale 2009).

Nowadays, the implementation of PET/CT guided therapeutic strategies and  the development of new prognostic biomarkers on baseline PET/CT, such as total metabolic tumor volume and tumor dissemination metrics are necessary.

It is time to propose standardized measurements of metabolic tumor burden to prepare for risk adaptation in lymphoma.

Likewise, the implications of PET imaging in multiple myeloma for treatment and response assessment will also be detailed.

Program

Moderators: Dr Anne Delcourt  Mouscron and Pr Olivier Gheysens UCL Bruxelles

09:00-09:45      Marie Vercruyssen – Hematology HUB

                        “Lymphoma and Multiple Myeloma in 2024: PET guided management and new treatments”

09:45-10:30      Pr. Andrea Gallamini – from Nice. 

                        “New metrics of PET scan reading in lymphoma”

10:30-11:00      Break

11:00-11:30      Pr. Nadia Withofs – CHU Liège.

                        “Guideline on the use of  PET/CT in Multiple Myeloma”

11:30-12:30      General assembly

• RIZIV/INAMI has granted 2 credits (Category 3, N°23032711) – RIZIV/INAMI accreditation for nuclear medicine physicians is available for BELNUC members only.
• FANC/AFCN has granted: 2h pour les médecins nucléaristes, 2h pour les personnes habilitées en médecine nucléair, 2h pour les radiophysiciens en médecine nucléair, 2h pour les radiopharmaciens

The BELNUC Tech Board is urgently looking for technologists (preferably French speaking) that want to join their enthusiastic team and help shape the future of BELNUC activities.

Are you willing to contribute fresh ideas and assist in the Tech Board activities? Send in your application today using the form below!

NMN Symposium: Precision Medicine

April 26-27th, 2024 in Vienna, Austria

We would like to inform you that the registration to the first Symposium on „Diagnostic and Therapeutic Innovations in the Era of Precision Medicine – Nuclear Medicine Meets Neuro-Oncology“ to be held on April 26-27th 2024 in Vienna is now open.

Click here to register for the symposium!

You can find all information including the program on our website.

Please note that you can also sign up for our newsletter to receive updates as we approach the meeting.

During the 2024 General Assembly (24/02/2024), the BELNUC members will elect a new board:

– position of President-elect.

– position of General Secretary-elect.

– one regular board members will be open.

– one member position for a physicist will be open.

If you are interested, applications can now be submitted until 7/01/2024!

Click here to apply for a BELNUC board position!