At my alma mater, nuclear medicine was part of the internal medicine department, and my mentors encouraged me to pursue a second residency in nuclear medicine. I decided to go for it and became dual certified in internal medicine and nuclear medicine. Looking back, it was one of the best decisions I ever made—and I’ve never regretted it for a moment.

HCB News: Is it fair to say nuclear medicine is having a banner year? If so, what accounts for the heightened excitement about the industry?
JLU: Yes, it's fair to say that nuclear medicine is experiencing a banner year. Over the past ten years we have witnessed rapid growth and innovation in the field.
The explosive market growth is illustrated by a growth projection from approximately $10.2 billion in 2023 to more than $22 billion by 2031, reflecting a robust compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 13%. This surge is fueled by:

• The rising prevalence worldwide of chronic conditions such as cancer and cardiovascular diseases, necessitating advanced diagnostic and therapeutic solutions.
• Advancements in hybrid imaging technologies: The development and adoption of digital PET/CT, PET/MR and SPECT/CT systems has enhanced the diagnostic accuracy and efficiency of medical imaging.
• Expansion of radiopharmaceutical applications in various medical fields, including oncology, cardiology, and neurology.

Theranostics, which combines diagnostic imaging and targeted therapy, is now at the forefront of nuclear medicine. Theranostic radiopharmaceuticals, which combine radioactive isotopes with targeting molecules, are revolutionizing cancer treatment by delivering radiation directly to tumor cells. Major pharmaceutical companies are investing heavily in this area. In addition to the success stories of Lutathera and Pluvicto for the treatment of neuroendocrine tumors and metastatic prostate cancers, there are about 250 new diagnostic and therapeutic radiopharmaceuticals in development and/or clinical trials to diagnose cancers, neurological conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease, and cardiac conditions.

AI is another factor. It’s increasingly being integrated into all aspects of nuclear medicine, enhancing target and ligand molecule discovery and synthesis, radiopharmaceutical production, and diagnostic accuracy and operational efficiency. AI algorithms can now assist in processing complex imaging data, leading to more accurate diagnoses and supporting the tailoring of radiopharmaceutical therapies to individual patient profiles, optimizing treatment outcomes.

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