On May 26, Mr. Rafael Mariano Grossi, Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (hereinafter referred to as IAEA), led a delegation to visit the Department of Nuclear Medicine of PUMCH. This is the first visit of Mr. Grossi to China since he assumed office in 2019. Entrusted by President Zhang Shuyang, Vice President Han Ding and others accompanied the delegation.

▲Group photo of personnel from both sides, from left to right: Diego Candano Laris, Senior Advisor to the Director General; Huang Wei, Division Director in the Department of Nuclear Energy, IAEA; Jacek Bylica, Chief of Cabinet at the Director General’s Office, IAEA; Liu Hua, Deputy Director General of IAEA; Rafael Mariano Grossi, Director General of IAEA; Han Ding, Vice President of PUMCH; Deng Ge, Secretary-General of China Atomic Energy Authority; Meng Yanbin, Assistant to the General Manager of CNNC; Huo Li, Director of Department of Nuclear Medicine, PUMCH; Zhou Li, Director of General Office, Institute of Clinical Medicine, PUMCH

Vice President Han Ding extended a warm welcome to the delegation. He said that PUMCH, as a national guiding center for the diagnosis and treatment of intractable diseases designated by the National Health Commission, has always pursued the advancement of medical care that improves patients’ quality of life as its top priority. The Department of Nuclear Medicine remains committed to offering patients better care underpinned by technological innovation and excellent services, driving the development of nuclear medicine in China along the way. PUMCH is keen on broadening and deepening cooperation with IAEA to jointly promote technological innovation and progress and the translation and clinical application of scientific and technological achievements in the field of nuclear medicine.

Luo Yaping, Assistant Director of the Department of Nuclear Medicine at PUMCH, presented the achievements of the department in the early diagnosis, staging and efficacy assessment of cancer, diagnostic methods of cardiac amyloidosis, radionuclide therapy and other aspects, as well as the way forward for future innovation and exploration. Meng Yanbin, Assistant to the General Manager of China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC), introduced the integrated nuclear medicine solution established, promoted and implemented by the corporation.

▲Exchanges at the meeting

Mr. Grossi lavished praise on the advanced nuclear medicine platform and the professional team at PUMCH. He recognized the integrated nuclear medicine solution, which was designed by CNNC to promote the implementation of the “one nuclear medicine department one county” strategy in China, as being highly aligned with the “rays of hope” initiative of IAEA. Mr. Grossi hoped that the technical prowess and experts of the Department of Nuclear Medicine, PUMCH could be mobilized, in combination with the integrated solution of CNNC, to help low- and middle-income countries improve their capabilities in nuclear medicine. He said that IAEA would provide more opportunities and a better platform for the Department of Nuclear Medicine, PUMCH to enable its growth and the growth of the entire hospital, which would propel nuclear medicine in China to reach greater excellence.

▲Vice President Han Ding presented Mr. Grossi with a gift, a set of stamps made in celebration of the centenary of PUMCH

After the meeting, Mr. Grossi and other members of the delegation were shown around the Department of Nuclear Medicine at the Translational Medicine Complex. Huo Li, Director of the Department of Nuclear Medicine, introduced the nuclear medicine-enabled diagnosis and treatment platform in many aspects from radionuclide production to new drug development and from diagnosis to treatment. She expressed the hope to further deepen exchanges and cooperation with IAEA so that nuclear technology can play a greater part in advancing health and well-being of people all over the world.

▲The guests took a closer look at the Department of Nuclear Medicine at the Translational Medicine Complex

Written by the Department of Nuclear Medicine and the International Collaboration Office

Photographed by Sun Liang

Translated by Liu Haiyan

Edited by Xiao Xiong, Pan Qingqing and Wang Yao