Alignment of the CMS tracker with LHC and cosmic ray data

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Revisão dos principais radiofármacos utilizados no Brasil e suas aplicações na detecção e terapia de patologias

Radiopharmaceuticals are substances marked with radionuclides that can be used for detection and treatment of cancer, infections and inflammatory diseases. They emit several types of radiation through different decay routes, each radioisotope with its specific properties and uses. They can usually be produced from several different materials, by bombardment with particle beams in a nuclear research reactor or cyclotron, depending on their characteristics. Brazil has four public institutions which produce - or import - and distribute radiopharmaceuticals to hospitals and clinics throughout its territory. The largest such institution, Ipen, distributes 97% of radiopharmaceuticals used in the country. Some radiopharmaceuticals decay very quickly, meaning they must be produced and quickly administered to the patient in the same location, presenting a logistical challenge. Nuclear medicine in Brazil is a promising field and has been steadily growing, although rigid laws and a lack of qualified work force hinder Research and Development efforts for new radiopharmaceuticals. The construction of a new nuclear research reactor, in 2016, should generate self-sufficiency and economy in radiopharmaceutical production and avoid a future crisis in the supply of technetium-99m, the most important radioisotope, used in over 80% of procedures with radiopharmaceuticals.