5th UAE International Congress on Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging kicks off in Dubai

Discusses the latest advances in oncology using molecular imaging techniques and radiotherapy

Dubai- 19 -April 2025 :The 5th annual UAE International Conference on Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging kicked off on Saturday in cooperation with the Arab Society for Nuclear Medicine, at the Mohammed Bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences, with the participation of more than 300 specialists from inside and outside the country, in addition to 35 lecturers and international experts in the fields of nuclear medicine and radiotherapy.

The two-day conference is a leading international platform to exchange experiences and review the latest scientific findings in the diagnosis and treatment of tumors using molecular imaging and molecular radiotherapy, in addition to reviewing international best practices and discussing the results of modern treatments according to the latest medical protocols.

Enhance cooperation and exchange of experiences

Dr. Batoul Al Balooshi, Assistant Professor of Nuclear Medicine at Mohammed Bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences, Head of the Department of Nuclear Medicine at the Dubai Health Authority, and President of the Arab Society for Nuclear Medicine, said:

“We are delighted to meet today at this distinguished scientific event, which brings together scientists and experts from around the world to discuss recent innovations that contribute to improving the quality of patient care, especially in the fields of oncology and thyroid.”

She added that the conference aims to enhance regional and international cooperation, open new horizons for scientific research and professional development, in addition to highlighting the wide potential of nuclear medicine in improving the lives of patients, through a deeper understanding of advanced technologies and their clinical applications, noting that the conference focuses this year on the applications of nuclear medicine in the treatment of tumors, including diseases of the brain and thyroid gland, in addition to the diagnosis and treatment of cancers using molecular imaging and radioactive material therapy, especially prostate cancer and pituitary gland.

Dr. Batoul Al Balooshi touched on a qualitative medical achievement for the UAE, represented in the use of modern technologies to diagnose Alzheimer’s disease, where changes in the brain are monitored using hybrid cameras that rely on molecular imaging.

She stressed that this technology allows early detection of the disease with an accuracy ranging from 90 to 95%, by tracking the accumulation of specific proteins in the brain before the onset of clinical symptoms, which constitutes a major step in promoting early diagnosis and improving the chances of treatment.

For her part, Dr. Diana Pease, Head of the Department of Nuclear Medicine and Diagnostic Radiology at the International Atomic Energy Agency, stressed that nuclear medicine is witnessing rapid growth in the region, noting the importance of the conference in promoting continuing education and knowledge transfer.

She praised the UAE’s experience, saying: “What we are witnessing in the UAE, especially in Dubai, is an advanced model in the use of the latest technologies and therapeutic applications, supported by highly equipped medical competencies, which makes the country on a clear path towards the sustainable expansion of nuclear medicine services, and affirmed the commitment of the International Atomic Energy Agency to continue its support for international cooperation in this field, with the aim of developing specialization and expanding patients’ access to these vital services.

Dr. Akram Al-Ibrahim, President of the Asian and Oceanian Society of Nuclear Medicine, said that the conference embodies the great development in nuclear medicine, especially in the field of precision personalized medicine, by directing treatments accurately towards cancer cells without affecting healthy tissue, thanks to advanced molecular diagnosis.

Dr. Abdul hameed Al Awadhi, Senior Consultant in Radiology and Nuclear Medicine from the Kingdom of Bahrain, stressed the importance of expanding the use of nuclear medicine in the treatment of multiple diseases, saying, “Previously, nuclear medicine was used on a small scale, but today it is used in the treatment of complex diseases including the brain, liver, kidneys and cancers, which indicates the rapid expansion of this vital specialty.”