Nuclear Medicine

The Department of Nuclear Medicine has 3 units:

1) Conventional nuclear medicine
This unit offers all the usual non-PET examinations, using either gamma-emitting radionuclides, or substances labelled using gamma-emitting radioelements. In 2016, the Department of Nuclear Medicine carried out 3500 “conventional” nuclear medicine examinations.  

The Department is equipped with a classical (2-headed) gamma camera and a latest generation hybrid SPECT-CT camera. The latter combines a gamma ray detector (2 heads) with a helicoidal CT scanner. This technology makes it possible to obtain a complete evaluation of the functional and anatomical/morphological characteristics of the disease.

2) The PET-CT unit
Since June 2001, the Institut Jules Bordet has had a positron emission tomography (PET) centre. This centre was opened as part of a collaboration with other public hospitals in Brussels, within the IRIS hospital network. It is one of the 20 PET centres recognised by royal decree in Belgium. In 2016, this unit carried out 6000 PET-CT scans using different types of tracer. 

3) Molecular radiotherapy
The Jules Bordet Institute is a reference centre for radionuclide therapy, historically with the treatment of thyroid cancer by iodine-131 and MIBG for neuroblastoma. Recent years have seen the development of several new treatments in the field of nuclear medicine, in particular for patients with neuroendocrine tumours (PRRT: protein receptor radio therapy) and prostate cancer metastasis and recurrence (PRLT: PSMA targeted radioligand therapy).

The treatments available at the Institut Jules Bordet:

• Lu177-octreotate (PRRT, for metastatic neuroendocrine tumours)
• Lu177-PSMA ligand (PRLT, for a multimetastatic recurrence of prostate cancer) 
• Y90-microspheres (radioembolization of primary liver tumours or liver metastases) 
• Xofigo (Radium-223) for bone metastases of prostate origin
• Iode-131 (thyroid cancer)
• MIBG (neuroblastoma)
• Y90-Zevalin (CD20-positive lymphoma)

The Nuclear Medicine Department of the H.U.B. is equipped with a state-of-the-art technological platform designed to meet the most advanced requirements in diagnosis and treatment.

PET/CT (Positron Emission Tomography combined with Computed Tomography): this technique combines functional imaging (PET) with morphological/anatomical imaging (CT) to identify metabolic or molecular abnormalities associated with benign or malignant diseases.

SPECT/CT (Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography combined with Computed Tomography): it enables visualization of the distribution of gamma-emitting radiopharmaceuticals in the body and helps assess organ function. These hybrid cameras (combining nuclear detection with CT scanning) provide 3D visualization, precise lesion localization, and improved interpretation of results.

Cyclotron: the H.U.B., in partnership with other hospitals, operates a cyclotron, a circular particle accelerator. This high-tech equipment produces positron-emitting radioisotopes, which are essential for PET/CT examinations.

GMP-certified radiopharmacy: this unit complies with European Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) standards, ensuring the sterility, traceability, and pharmaceutical quality of substances administered to patients.

Five specialized inpatient rooms: designed for the safe administration of radiopharmaceutical treatments, these rooms meet radiation protection standards and allow optimal patient monitoring.

A multidisciplinary team at the service of patients. The quality of care is based on close collaboration between multiple professions, each bringing specific expertise at every stage of the patient journey.

• Nuclear medicine physicians specialized in molecular imaging diagnostics and targeted nuclear therapies
• Radiation safety officers ensuring staff protection
• Medical physicists ensuring the quality of equipment
• Pharmacists specialized in radiopharmacy
• Technologists and nurses trained in the specificities of nuclear medicine

Department Director

• Prof. Dr. Patrick Flamen

H.U.B. Medical Team

• Dr. Géraldine Gebhart, Director of the Oncological Nuclear Medicine Clinic
• Dr. Carlos Artigas, Director of the General Nuclear Medicine Clinic
• Dr. Gil Leurquin-Sterk, Hospital Professor
• Dr. Mario-Rodrigo Moreno-Reyes, Hospital Professor
• Dr. Erwin Woff, Hospital Professor
• Dr. Nicolas Dumarey, Senior Hospital Physician (PHU)
• Dr. Ioannis Karfis, Senior Hospital Physician (PHU)
• Dr. Elçin Özalp, Senior Hospital Physician (PHU)
• Dr. Irina Vierasu, Senior Hospital Physician (PHU)
• Dr. Younes Abadi, Resident
• Dr. Amélie Castiaux, Resident
• Dr. Juanito Gebruers, Resident
• Dr. Magdalena Mileva, Resident

For the full team, see the bottom of the page.

The ULB NET Center is the first bilingual Belgian center to receive the Centre of Excellence certification for Neuroendocrine Tumors, awarded by ENETS (European Neuroendocrine Tumor Society).

This certification, obtained in March 2023 following a rigorous audit, confirms full compliance with particularly stringent quality criteria. These criteria assess the comprehensive management—both diagnostic and therapeutic—of patients with neuroendocrine tumors, a rare oncological entity.

It represents an objective recognition of the excellence of care provided, the result of many years of commitment and sustained work by a multidisciplinary team specialized in neuroendocrine tumors.

This distinction reflects the implementation of ENETS recommendations, the investment in continuous team training, and active participation in research projects and clinical studies, both nationally and internationally, with the constant goal of delivering the highest quality healthcare.

The Nuclear Medicine Department of the H.U.B. participates in numerous fundamental, translational, and clinical research projects across various fields. Its primary mission is the development of new diagnostic and therapeutic techniques.

Clinical research is an integral component of the Nuclear Medicine Department, with multiple phase I–II–III clinical trials covering diverse areas such as oncology, cardiology, and neurology.

The department has its own research team—including physicians, physicists, research assistants, and fellows—and benefits from the H.U.B.’s Clinical Trials Support Unit (CTC) for project management.

Currently, the Nuclear Medicine Department participates in four European research programs (2024–2030):

• Accelerate: Innovative Health Initiative – Elevating the Future of Cancer Care with Alpha Theranostics (https://ihi-accelerate.eu/)
• Thera4Care: Innovative Health Initiative – Theranostics Ecosystem for Personalized Care (https://www.thera4care.eu/)
• Oasis: Horizon Europe Program (Grant no. 101156771) – Optimal methods to characterize ADC resistance in solid tumors and identify clinically useful biomarkers
• COMPASS: Horizon-JU-IHI 2025 – Cardio-Oncology Multidisciplinary Patient Assistance Solution

Preclinical and Translational Research in Nuclear Medicine

The Nuclear Medicine Department of the Institut Jules Bordet relies on two research laboratories: ATHENO (Advancing Theranostics in Nuclear Oncology) and nuMIx (Nuclear and X-ray Molecular Imaging Laboratory). Complementary in scope, they cover the entire spectrum of preclinical and translational nuclear medicine applications, addressing all needs in the development and evaluation of radiopharmaceuticals.

ATHENO

In 2024, the Nuclear Medicine Department established ATHENO, a preclinical and translational research laboratory located on the ULB medical campus, dedicated to the development of radiotheranostics in oncology.

ATHENO pursues two main objectives:

1. Better understand the radiobiology of treatments using radiopharmaceuticals to propose strategies that optimize their effectiveness and use.
2. Develop new radiopharmaceuticals targeting different cancer types, from design to preclinical evaluation, to expand the indications of radiotheranostics.

Activities at ATHENO include radiobiology studies, preclinical development of new radiopharmaceuticals—including toxicity studies—as well as translational studies. These research projects use clinically relevant models and also incorporate patient-derived samples. The team works closely with the clinical Nuclear Medicine Department to accelerate the translation of discoveries to patients.

ATHENO is equipped with dedicated preclinical nuclear medicine research tools, including a controlled animal facility, a microPET/CT, a micro-irradiator, and devices for blood analyses.

ATHENO is integrated within the BCRL (Bordet Cancer Research Labs) of the Institut Jules Bordet and actively collaborates with several academic and institutional partners in Belgium, including VUB, KUL, and SCK-CEN.

nuMIx

The nuMIx laboratory, located on the Gosselies campus and integrated into the CMMI (Center for Microscopy and Molecular Imaging), affiliated with ULB, specializes in generating, analyzing, and interpreting in vivo imaging in animal models. With over 15 years of experience, nuMIx covers diverse areas including oncology, metabolism, inflammation, neurology, microbiology, parasitology, cell therapy, and medical devices. Since joining the Institut Jules Bordet’s research activities, nuMIx has focused its efforts on radiotheranostics, in synergy with ATHENO.

Services offered include:

• µPET, µSPECT, autoradiography, and µCT imaging of small animals
• Management of animal models (implementation, monitoring, ethical protocol drafting)
• Design and supervision of customized experimental procedures in close collaboration with partners

nuMIx is equipped with state-of-the-art instruments, including:

• VECTor platform (MILabs/Rigaku), optimized for detecting low- and high-energy radioemitters
• Skyscan 1276 µCT (Bruker), offering resolution up to 10 µm
• nanoScan PET/CT (Mediso), providing comprehensive nuclear imaging coverage

The Department of Nuclear Medicine is a training unit recognised for the training of doctors specialising in nuclear medicine (complete training programme).

Each year, it welcomes 1 or 2 young doctors training in nuclear medicine, as well as students on a masters in medicine course (1 or 2 per month). It organises regular seminars recognised to be part of in-service training of specialist doctors.

The Department also welcomes trainees training to be medical technologists.

The Department of Nuclear Medicine of the Institut Jules Bordet is the only service of the ULB network which provides systemic radionuclide cancer treatments (thyroid and neuroendocrine cancers). It has therefore become a national and international reference centre for specific training in “theranostics” and molecular radiotherapy.