By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The first nuclear medicine research facility on the continent, the Nuclear Medicine Research Infrastructure (NuMeRI) facility in Pretoria, was formally launched on Wednesday.
Blade Nzimande, Minister of Higher Education, Science, and Innovation, welcomed guests to the state-of-the-art facility and explained that it was the result of South Africa’s long-standing partnership with the European Union (EU), which began in 2012.
It has a cyclotron that produces isotopes used in radiation therapy. In addition to generating considerable capacity for research, development, and innovation in South Africa and aiding in the treatment of cancer and other diseases, the NuMeRI will offer integrated expertise in nuclear technologies in medicine and biosciences.
Speaking at the launch of the research facility Nzimande said the NuMeRI’s capabilities will contribute to the precision medicine approach and targeted personalised therapies being developed in South Africa.
“The mobilisation of innovation and technology to address the disease burden and the need to provide quality health care to all South Africans is a key priority of my department’s Decadal Plan on Science, Technology, and Innovation, It will assist in taking bio-innovations further down the value chain from radiolabelling to preclinical testing. It will also contribute to good manufacturing practices and clinical trials.”
The NuMeRI is a one-stop-shop medical imaging facility dedicated to drug development and imaging-based clinical research and open to all researchers who will benefit from imaging in their product development.
“It will assist in taking bio-innovations further down the value chain from radiolabelling to preclinical testing. It will also contribute to good manufacturing practices and clinical trials,” he explained.
In addition, the NuMeRI’s capabilities will contribute to the precision medicine approach and targeted personalised therapies being developed in South Africa.
Management
To ensure efficient governance and management, the two partners, the University of Pretoria and Steve Biko Academic Hospital, agreed to the establishment of a NuMeRI not-for-profit company (NPC).
The University of Pretoria and South African Nuclear Energy Corporation (Necsa) are founding members of the NPC and draw on the knowledge of officials of the DSI, who are actively involved in the implementation of the NuMeRI.
The first phase of NuMeRI, established and hosted at Necsa for three years was made possible by an investment of close to R150 million between 2016 and 2019. The second phase of implementation at Steve Biko Academic Hospital started in the 2020/21 financial year with an investment of approximately R390 million since 2020 by the DSI.
Meanwhile, the University of Pretoria also received an additional R85 million for the NuMeRI building.
Human Resources
According to the Nzimande, it is anticipated that this infrastructure will triple the current clinical PhDs and increase six-fold basic science PhDs.
To date, 20 Masters and 15 PhD students have completed their studies with a further 17 Master’s degrees and 22 PhD students finishing their studies.