The recent Australian and New Zealand Society of Nuclear Medicine 39th Annual Scientific meeting clearly demonstrated the growing and dominating role of PET imaging in nuclear medicine. The growth, uptake and significance of PET was highlighted by the volume and diversity of PET abstracts presented at ANZSNM. Of the 125 abstracts presented over 34 per cent (43 abstracts) specifically related to PET imaging. In the long-term, we are confident that such clinical interest and support will translate to an even wider uptake of this important technology by governments and the general medical community.
As PETNET Solutions inaugural industry event in Australia, the annual meeting was an outstanding success. The exhibition booth attracted many visitors and was an important opportunity to showcase the new Lucas Heights facility and introduce the growing PETNET team to the local nuclear medicine community. Much fun was had with the dart throwing competition and the prospect of winning a jar of jellybeans was a major drawcard.
But no successful event would be complete without an element of drama and PETNET’s own Divesh Kumar was the unwilling participant. An unfortunate tumble down a flight of stairs the night before saw Divesh in traction and in hospital, and unable to present his collaborative research poster on the long-term uptake of 14C-ZA and the effectiveness of PTH in redistributing it to the areas of new bone formation. The poster, while unrelated to PET imaging, was nonetheless, clinically significant in the area of pharmacokinetic treatment options for osteoporosis and represented an important breakthrough in exploring innovative therapeutic options which would improve patient amenity without compromising the therapeutic outcome.
Fortunately, John Hodder was able to step in at the last minute and present Divesh’s other paper on the safety aspects of the new facility.
We are pleased to announce that Divesh is now fully recovered and back on deck.
The PETNET team would like to thank Monica Rossleigh for doing an excellent job as the meeting Convenor and all other members of the organising committee for putting on a world class event.