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Loveworld Medical Centre, Lagos, is set to host the International Symposium on Radiopharmaceutical Therapy (ISRT) 2026, drawing leading specialists in nuclear medicine, oncology, radiopharmacy, molecular imaging and precision medicine from Africa and beyond.
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The August 28–29 symposium will showcase advanced approaches to cancer diagnosis and treatment, including targeted radiopharmaceutical therapy, radioligand therapy, molecular imaging and theragnostics.
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The organisers are placing practical capacityv building at the centre of the meeting, with hands-on workshops, clinical case discussions and multidisciplinary sessions designed to equip African healthcare professionals with specialised knowledge.
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Experts from Nigeria, South Africa, Algeria, Egypt, Kenya, Ethiopia, Germany, India and the United States are expected to participate.
August 27, (THEWILL) — In a major push to accelerate the adoption of advanced cancer diagnosis and treatment in Africa, Loveworld Medical Centre is mobilising leading medical experts and emerging technologies from across the globe for the International Symposium on Radiopharmaceutical Therapy (ISRT) 2026 in Lagos.
The two-day international symposium, scheduled for August 28 and 29 at Loveworld Medical Centre, will bring together specialists in nuclear medicine, radiopharmaceutical therapy, theragnostics, molecular imaging, oncology, radiopharmacy and precision medicine.
The international faculty and contributors include experts from Nigeria, South Africa, Algeria, Egypt, Kenya, Ethiopia, Germany, India and the United States, creating a broad scientific platform spanning Africa, Europe, Asia and North America.
At the centre of the symposium is the growing field of radiopharmaceutical therapy, which uses radioactive substances to target specific cancer cells and deliver treatment more precisely.
Targeted Therapies Take Centre Stage
The symposium will showcase developments in targeted radiopharmaceutical therapies, molecular imaging, radioligand therapy and other emerging approaches to precision cancer treatment.
These technologies form part of a rapidly evolving area of medicine in which diagnosis and treatment are increasingly integrated to identify specific biological characteristics of a patient’s cancer and use that information to guide therapy.
The concept, known as theragnostics, combines diagnostic imaging with targeted treatment, potentially allowing clinicians to identify patients who may benefit from particular therapies and monitor how they respond.
For African countries confronting significant gaps in cancer diagnosis and treatment, the ability to develop expertise in such technologies could help broaden the range of specialised care available to patients.
However, the organisers recognise that introducing advanced cancer technologies requires more than acquiring sophisticated equipment. It also requires trained specialists, appropriate infrastructure, radiopharmacy capabilities, multidisciplinary clinical teams and sustained technical expertise.
This is why capacity building is expected to be a major focus of ISRT 2026.
From Scientific Lectures To Hands-On Training
Unlike a conventional scientific conference centred largely on lectures and presentations, the symposium will incorporate hands-on workshops, clinical case discussions and multidisciplinary education.
The practical sessions are designed to provide healthcare professionals with greater exposure to the clinical application of radiopharmaceutical therapy and related technologies.
The programme will also feature African country perspectives, allowing participants to examine the realities and challenges of deploying advanced nuclear medicine services in different parts of the continent.
Strategic discussions will focus on how the technologies can be implemented and scaled sustainably, particularly in environments where specialised healthcare infrastructure and human resources remain limited.
The organisers said the objective is to strengthen African capacity through education, workforce development, international partnerships, technology transfer and collaboration.
The emphasis on technology transfer and workforce development is particularly important because the long-term success of advanced cancer treatment in Africa will depend on the ability of local institutions and professionals to independently operate, maintain and expand specialised services.
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The convergence of experts from multiple continents is also expected to open opportunities for stronger professional and institutional relationships between African healthcare practitioners and leading international specialists.
Rather than limiting the event to the exchange of scientific information, ISRT 2026 seeks to create a platform for sustained collaboration in research, clinical practice, training and technology deployment.
The approach could help African practitioners gain access to emerging knowledge while allowing international experts to better understand the specific infrastructure, regulatory and clinical challenges confronting healthcare systems on the continent.
The symposium also comes against the backdrop of the continuing need to strengthen cancer care in Africa, where access to specialised diagnosis and treatment remains uneven.
Although cancer medicine has witnessed major advances globally, many African health systems continue to face challenges relating to specialist manpower, diagnostic capacity, treatment infrastructure and access to newer therapies.
The gap between the availability of cutting-edge cancer technologies globally and their accessibility to patients in Africa has therefore remained a major healthcare challenge.
ISRT 2026 is positioned by its organisers as part of efforts to narrow that gap by combining global expertise with local capacity development.
Felix Ifijeh is a journalist with years of professional reporting experience. Known for his keen news sense, compelling storytelling and commitment to accurate, impactful reporting, he has built a reputation for turning leads into clear, engaging, and well-structured reports that resonate with readers. His work reflects deep newsroom experience and a commitment to accurate, impactful journalism.
