Advancing Nuclear Medicine through Discovery, Invention, and Innovation - Contribution of a Physicist and Scientist (Vikram Sarabhai Memorial Oration-2023).

Abstract

The history of radiation science began with Wilhelm Rontgen's discovery of X-rays in 1895, followed closely by Henri Becquerel's discovery of radioactivity in 1896. Subsequent research focused on developing radioisotope technology and exploring its applications in medical diagnosis and treatment. The first recorded use of radioisotopes for tumor treatment was by William Dune in Marie Curie's laboratory. George D Heawse employed radioisotopes to study plant and animal physiology. Irene and Joliot Curie pioneered the production of artificial radioisotopes using alpha particle bombardment. Ernest O. Lawrence's invention of the cyclotron furthered the development of artificial isotopes. His brother John Lawrence treated the first patient with cyclotron-produced phosphorus-32. Glenn Seaborg's discovery of Tc-99m and I-131 led to the development of radioiodine therapy by Saul Hertz and many diagnostic procedures using Tc-99m. Bendit Casin invented the rectilinear scanner, a pioneering imaging device, while Hal Anger developed the gamma camera. Over time, the contributions of researchers, scientists, engineers, and physicians have advanced the field of nuclear medicine, resulting in state-of-the-art equipment such as positron emission tomography (PET)/magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), positron emission tomography (PET)/computed tomography (CT), single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT)/computed tomography (CT), and many other innovative technologies.