Poland\'s most advanced preclinical laboratory for testing radiopharmaceuticals has opened at the National Centre for Nuclear Research. It will help accelerate the development of new medicines, including those used in oncology radiotherapy.
"The project worth PLN 2.5 million will not only improve the research potential of the NCBJ POLATOM Radioisotope Centre, but will also help accelerate the development of new medicines, including those used in oncology radiotherapy" - told PAP the National Centre for Nuclear Research (NCBJ) spokesman Marek Sieczkowski.
Preclinical animal studies are a key step in the development of new radiopharmaceuticals and introducing them in the diagnosis and treatment of cancer. Issues evaluated in preclinical studies include the potential efficacy of the drug, identification of organs exposed to radiation and initial dose estimation for the first phase of clinical trials. This procedure applies to all new radiopharmaceuticals used in the cancer diagnosis and therapy of.
"Highly specialised preclinical lab is a strategic part of each radiopharmaceuticals manufacturer and developer. Therefore, having included the Department of Isotope Medicines of the National Medicine Institute in our structures (2011 - PAP), we decided to modernize and expand the lab" - said the director of NCBJ POLATOM Dr. Dariusz Socha. "In result, we now have the most advanced preclinical laboratory in the country" - he added.
According to Sieczkowski, the new lab will allow scientists to use models of human tumours in immunocompromised animals, carry out multifunctional imaging of physiological distribution of radiopharmaceuticals in vivo in experimental animal models, as well as to test the specificity of the individual drugs.
The key equipment in the new preclinical lab is worth PLN 1.4 million set of devices that allow to track of the drug in the body of experimental animal, monitor its accumulation and movement. New devices do not require killing mice and rats. As a result, scientists will need up to six times fewer animals to perform the necessary procedures.
Modern cages built for animals meet the highest standards, such as providing clean air, 22 degrees Celsius temperature, 55 percent relative humidity, low noise levels. New animal house meets all the highest standards and is regularly inspected by the Veterinary Inspectorate.
"The number of our customers continues to grow, and our innovative products are valued worldwide. We continue to develop new solutions that not only improve our Institute, but above all help doctors save lives" - emphasized Dr. Piotr Garnuszek, Head of the NCBJ POLATOM Research Department.
PAP - Science and Scholarship in Poland
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