Course Information
NN
1.5 ECTS
2026-10-02
Other Courses
English
12
2026
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Introduction to Radiopharmaceutical Chemistry: Theory and Practice
Course Leader
Hemantha Mallapura, Ph.D.
Department
Department of Medicinal Chemistry
Weeks
Week 46 - 9/11/2026 to 13/11/2026
Location
Preclinical PET-MRI Platform (PPP), Translational PET Imaging (TPI) Dag Hammarskjölds väg 14C, 3tr Uppsala University SE-751 83 Uppsala, SWEDEN
Duration
1 week
Description
The course introduces basic radiochemistry and radiopharmaceutical science with relevance to molecular imaging and targeted therapy. The course deals with nuclear and coordination chemistry, radiosynthesis of small and large molecules, diagnostic and therapeutic radionuclides, and the role of PET in drug development. Practical steps include manual radiolabeling with generator-produced radionuclides, purification methods, quality control procedures and troubleshooting of radiolabeling reactions.
PARTICIPANTS
• Priority for doctoral students. Interested post-doctorates and researchers have to pay a course fee of 4500 SEK.
• 9-12 participants.
Eligibility: Minimum requirement is a Master’s degree in pharmacy or biomedicine or chemistry or equivalent field. Applicants are requested to attend a radiation safety course before attending this training.
Departments will be charged SEK 2,000 per student who registers for the course but fails to participate.
TEACHING METHODS
• Language – English.
• Lectures – at the Preclinical PET-MRI platform/Zoom meeting (theory classes)
• Lab sessions – at the Preclinical PET-MRI platform (mandatory attendance required)
Participants will be divided into small groups to have hands-on radiolabeling experiments, purification, QC, and data interpretation. Personal protective equipment (gloves, masks, eyewear) will be provided.
Lectures and relevant course materials for exams will be posted on the studentportalen.
PARTICIPANTS
• Priority for doctoral students. Interested post-doctorates and researchers have to pay a course fee of 4500 SEK.
• 9-12 participants.
Eligibility: Minimum requirement is a Master’s degree in pharmacy or biomedicine or chemistry or equivalent field. Applicants are requested to attend a radiation safety course before attending this training.
Departments will be charged SEK 2,000 per student who registers for the course but fails to participate.
TEACHING METHODS
• Language – English.
• Lectures – at the Preclinical PET-MRI platform/Zoom meeting (theory classes)
• Lab sessions – at the Preclinical PET-MRI platform (mandatory attendance required)
Participants will be divided into small groups to have hands-on radiolabeling experiments, purification, QC, and data interpretation. Personal protective equipment (gloves, masks, eyewear) will be provided.
Lectures and relevant course materials for exams will be posted on the studentportalen.
Learning Outcomes
After completing the course, participants should be able to:
• Explain fundamental principles of radiochemistry and radionuclide decay
• Describe radiosynthesis strategies for small molecules, peptides, and proteins
• Understand diagnostic and therapeutic radiopharmaceutical applications
• Describe use of PET tracers in drug discovery
• Demonstrate basic understanding of manual radiolabeling and quality control techniques
• Calculate and interpret radiochemical yield, purity, and molar activity, and document radiolabeling workflows according to good laboratory practices.
• Apply radiation safety practices in radiochemistry laboratories
• Explain fundamental principles of radiochemistry and radionuclide decay
• Describe radiosynthesis strategies for small molecules, peptides, and proteins
• Understand diagnostic and therapeutic radiopharmaceutical applications
• Describe use of PET tracers in drug discovery
• Demonstrate basic understanding of manual radiolabeling and quality control techniques
• Calculate and interpret radiochemical yield, purity, and molar activity, and document radiolabeling workflows according to good laboratory practices.
• Apply radiation safety practices in radiochemistry laboratories
Content
1. Basic chemistry related to radiochemistry
• Nuclear structure, isotopes, decay modes
• Radiation interaction with matter
• Half-life (short lived and long lived)
• Basics of coordination chemistry
• Chelators (DOTA, NOTA, RESCA, DFO, and HBED… etc.)
• Generator systems (e.g., Ga-68, Tc-99m)
2. Radiosynthesis and radiolabeling
• Principles of radiolabeling reactions
• Radiometal labeling (Ga-68, Lu-177, In-111)
• Parameters affecting labeling yield (pH, temp, buffer, and precursor…etc)
• Purification techniques (NAP, SPE, and HPLC)
• Introduction to 11C- and 18F-chemistry and other PET radionuclides
• Radiation safety and hot-lab workflow
3. Diagnosis and therapy (Theranostics)
• Diagnostic tracers (PET)
• Therapeutic radionuclides (Lu-177, Tb-161, Ac-225, and I-131)
• Concept of theranostics
• Clinical examples: PSMA, and DOTATATE
4. micro molecules and macro molecules
• Radiolabeled small-molecule probes
• Radiometal-labeled peptides
• Peptide and proteins in radiochemistry
• How molecule class dictates labeling strategy and QC approach
5. PET in Drug Discovery and Development
• PET for pharmacokinetics and biodistribution
• Target occupancy and engagement studies
• Early-phase tracer evaluation
• Case studies in CNS, and oncology
• Nuclear structure, isotopes, decay modes
• Radiation interaction with matter
• Half-life (short lived and long lived)
• Basics of coordination chemistry
• Chelators (DOTA, NOTA, RESCA, DFO, and HBED… etc.)
• Generator systems (e.g., Ga-68, Tc-99m)
2. Radiosynthesis and radiolabeling
• Principles of radiolabeling reactions
• Radiometal labeling (Ga-68, Lu-177, In-111)
• Parameters affecting labeling yield (pH, temp, buffer, and precursor…etc)
• Purification techniques (NAP, SPE, and HPLC)
• Introduction to 11C- and 18F-chemistry and other PET radionuclides
• Radiation safety and hot-lab workflow
3. Diagnosis and therapy (Theranostics)
• Diagnostic tracers (PET)
• Therapeutic radionuclides (Lu-177, Tb-161, Ac-225, and I-131)
• Concept of theranostics
• Clinical examples: PSMA, and DOTATATE
4. micro molecules and macro molecules
• Radiolabeled small-molecule probes
• Radiometal-labeled peptides
• Peptide and proteins in radiochemistry
• How molecule class dictates labeling strategy and QC approach
5. PET in Drug Discovery and Development
• PET for pharmacokinetics and biodistribution
• Target occupancy and engagement studies
• Early-phase tracer evaluation
• Case studies in CNS, and oncology
Instructions
Lectures, seminars, literature discussions, and supervised laboratory sessions in small groups. Teaching is delivered through classroom or Zoom lectures and practical training at the Preclinical PET-MRI Platform.
Examination
Assessment is based on attendance (100%), an individual written home examination, and an oral group presentation based on practical radiolabeling and quality control work.
Examiner: Prof. Olof Eriksson, Dept. of Medicinal Chemistry
Examiner: Prof. Olof Eriksson, Dept. of Medicinal Chemistry
Literature
1. Handbook of Radiopharmaceuticals: Methodology and Applications
Editor(s): Peter Scott, Michael Kilbourn Online ISBN:9781119500575 DOI:10.1002/9781119500575
2. Zhang, S., Wang, X., Gao, X. et al. Radiopharmaceuticals and their applications in medicine. Sig Transduct Target Ther 10, 1 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41392-024-02041-6
Editor(s): Peter Scott, Michael Kilbourn Online ISBN:9781119500575 DOI:10.1002/9781119500575
2. Zhang, S., Wang, X., Gao, X. et al. Radiopharmaceuticals and their applications in medicine. Sig Transduct Target Ther 10, 1 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41392-024-02041-6
Teachers
Hemantha Mallapura, Ph.D.
Mengfei Xiong, Ph.D.
Andriana Putri, Ph.D.
Mengfei Xiong, Ph.D.
Andriana Putri, Ph.D.