The Radiopharmaceutical Sciences Council is made up of members of the SNMMI who have a common interest in the radiopharmaceutical sciences. Membership is open to all Society members in good standing, including physicians, scientists, technologists, pharmacists, and other interested parties.

The field of radiopharmaceutical sciences is unique in that it lies at a nexus of several scientific specialties. A typical study can include in silico molecular design, organic and inorganic chemistry, radiochemistry, cell culture, in vitro cell binding studies, preclinical studies, as well as mathematical and statistical analysis of data. The possible combinations and permutations of these various disciplines lead both to great opportunities to advance healthcare and, also, challenges in identifying and applying the best approach, whether it be the choice of chemical methodology or how to best employ different radiopharmaceuticals.

The RPSC has been set up for the purpose of providing a forum to discuss and disseminate information relating to radiopharmaceutical sciences, promote and encourage basic research and applied technology in the radiopharmaceutical sciences, and provide the SNMMI information relating to the radiopharmaceutical sciences. Members of the council accomplish this through the organization and sponsorship of various webinars, and educational sessions during the various SNMMI conferences including the Annual and Mid-Winter meetings, as well as regular board meetings and newsletters sent to the membership.

The mission of the Radiopharmaceutical Sciences Council is to:

• provide a forum for members with similar interests.
• provide expertise in the field of interest to the membership.
• foster education in research and application of radiopharmaceutical sciences.
• provide outreach to other professionals and organizations.
• nurture new membership into the Society and the Council.
• provide recognition for professionals who have made outstanding contributions in the fields encompassed by the radiopharmaceutical sciences.

The Radiopharmaceutical Sciences Council encourages all professionals within SNMMI to consider being members as your input is needed to help promote and develop the many aspects of the Radiopharmaceutical Sciences. Learn more about the specific benefits the RPSC council has to offer by emailing memberinfo@snmmi.org

Kishore Pillarsetty, PhD

RPSC Presidents Message:

The Radiological Protection Subcommittee (RPSC) is dedicated to the discussion, debate, and dissemination of knowledge relating to the radiopharmaceutical sciences. The RPSC transcends disciplinary boundaries, bringing together physicists, engineers, chemists, radiochemists, chemical biologists, radiopharmacists, technologists, and clinicians, whose broad range of expertise is reflected in the membership of the council and its board of directors (BoD). I am very thankful to the BoD (current, incoming, and outgoing) and our board liaison Prof. Cathy S. Cutler, who volunteer their time and energy to ensure the RPSC’s success. The warm reception of the Categorical and Continuing Educations sessions sponsored by the RPSC at the SNMMI 2023 Annual Meeting directly reflects the efforts of BoD members under the able leadership of our outgoing president Dr. Michael Nickels, as well as the loyal following of the RPSC membership.

On behalf of our current BoD, I would like to take this opportunity to thank outgoing members and welcome new members to the board. I also extend my thanks to all those who voted in the previous election and encourage members to actively participate in this process by nominating and voting on candidates.  The range of expertise and topics poses a real challenge when it comes to organizing educational sessions. We would therefore appreciate the active involvement and guidance of council membership: let us know on what topic(s) would be of the greatest interest to you and your colleagues! 

I would also like to take this opportunity to congratulate the 2023 RSPC award winners, including Prof. Sally W. Schwarz (Michael J. Welch Award), Prof. Emeritus James Ponto (Sally W. Schwarz Award), Prof. Steven Liang (Berson Yalow Award), Dr. Xuedan Wu, PhD (Michael J. Welch Post-Doctoral Travel Award), and the ERF RPSC Young Investigator awardees, our rising stars in the field: Dr. Tanpreet Kaur (1^st), Dr. Brett Vaughn (2^nd) and Dr. Anton Lindberg (3^rd).  We are very grateful for the support of the Education and Research Foundation for Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (ERF) and our industrial sponsors who make the poster mixer (co-sponsored by RPSC-CMIIT) possible. A big shout-out to Ms. Teresa Ellmer of SNMMI (Associate Director, Governance) for her help on every aspect of running the RPSC.

I am pleased, grateful, and honored for your trust in electing me President of the RPSC, and I will do my best to ensure a bright future for RPSC and its membership.

Resources and Educational Offerings:

The RPSC works to provide the most up-to-date resources and educational offerings to its members. This section provides information on past educational offerings (sponsored by the RPSC), as well as important updates and areas of interest in radiopharmaceutical sciences.

National Isotope Development Center (NIDC)

Preclinical Molecular Imaging - Using microPET, microCT, & Optical methods

Preclinincal Molecular Imaging - Part II

Animal Handling for In Vivo Imaging

USP Hot Topics

RPSC Educational Resources

Molecular Imaging & Contrast Database

PET Data Analysis and Modelling (Turku PET Centre)

Professional Societies and Organizations:

American Association of Pharmaceutical Sciences

American Nuclear Society

American Chemical Society

Royal Society of Chemistry

American Association for the Advancement of Science

American Cancer Society

National Institutes of Health

National Science Foundation

Society of Radiopharmaceutical Sciences

World Molecular Imaging Society 

The Radiopharmaceutical Sciences Council offers several different awards to recognize individuals within the field who have made significant contributions to radiopharmaceutical sciences. The following awards are offered on a yearly basis by the council:

Sally W. Schwarz Award for Outstanding Contribution in Radiopharmacy - The Sally W. Schwarz Award was created as a means of recognizing individuals who have made an outstanding contribution to the field of radiopharmacy. This contribution can be in the form of radiopharmaceutical development, production and/or translation of radiopharmaceuticals for nuclear medicine and molecular imaging, and/or significant contributions to the regulatory oversight of radiopharmaceutical supply and administration, and/or in the mentoring and education of the next generation of radiopharmacists. The Sally W. Schwarz Award carries with it an award of $1,000 supported by the Radiopharmaceutical Sciences Council. Learn more about the Sally W. Schwarz Award for Outstanding Contribution in Radiopharmacy.

Berson Yalow Award - This award honors investigators who submit the most original scientific abstracts and make the most significant contributions to basic or clinical radioassay. Learn more about the Berson Yalow Award.

Michael J. Welch Award - The Michael J. Welch award is awarded to an individual who has made outstanding contributions to radiopharmaceutical sciences, has been involved in mentoring students, Postdoctoral fellows, and junior faculty, and has been involved in community service to the field of radiopharmaceutical chemistry and molecular imaging. Learn more about the Michael J. Welch Award.

Michael J. Welch Post-Doctoral Travel Award - This award recognizes an outstanding abstract by a young investigator in the area of radiochemistry.  The award amount and whether it is given out will be contingent on receiving funding from the Michael J. Welch Foundation. Learn more about the Michael J. Welch Post-Doctoral Travel Award.  

Young Investigator Awards - The RPSCYIA's are reserved for the best scientific abstracts on radiopharmaceutical chemistry nuclear medicine submitted by young investigators.  Learn more about the RPSC Young Investigator Awards.
 

The Society recognizes the need for sub-specialty interests/expertise within the field of nuclear medicine and moleuclar imaging. Councils provide the expertise, professional networking and educational programs for nuclear medicine professionals in respective areas and serve as a resource for development and implementatin of Society policies.

Council membership is voluntary. Councils adhere to Society Bylaws and policies, while operating under its own Operating Procedures, as approved by the House of Delegates, and its own business plan and budget, as approved by the SNMMI Board of Directors.

This secion provides the following council specific information.

RPSC Board of Directors
RPSC Operating Procedures
RPSC Business Plan
RPSC Council Reports to the House of Delegates
RPSC Past Presidents

How to Become a Member
Membership in the Radiopharmaceutical Sciences Council is limited to members of the SNMMI. Membership can be attained by indicating the desire to join during the annual renewal of the SNMMI membership or by filing an application with the Secretary of the council. Become a SNMMI member here: https://www.snmmi.org/Membership/index.aspx?navItemNumber=506

Payment of Dues
Membership in the RPSC requires payment of dues in the amount of $20/year. Dues are paid to SNMMI and will be due on October 1st of each year with membership joining or renewal.

Benefits of Membership:
Membership makes you a part of a professional group within the SNMMI that:

Provides continuing education for professionals in the various areas relating to Radiopharmaceutical Sciences through sponsored symposia and continuing education courses. Each year the RPSC puts on a Categorical Seminar or symposia, and Continuing Education Courses on topics of interest to professionals in the Radiopharmaceutical Sciences. These take place at the SNMMI Annual and Mid-Winter meetings.

Provides a forum and a mechanism for discussion and dissemination of information relating to the Radiopharmaceutical Sciences. The RPSC members receive periodic Newsletters and electronic mailings containing information on professional activities, government issues, and a host of other topics related to the Radiopharmaceutical Sciences.

Provides expertise in the Radiopharmaceutical Sciences to SNMMI leadership and to groups outside of SNMMI seeking such expertise. The RPSC has representation in a number of governance groups within SNMMI, including the Committee on Councils and the House of Delegates.

Learn more about the specific benefits the RPSC council has to offer by emailing memberinfo@snmmi.org