One Global Network. Shared Experiences. Advancing Theranostics.
17 October 2026 | Vienna, Austria | Alongside EANM 2026
30+ of 90 International ICPO Accredited Centers | 60+ Participants | One Shared Ambition
A Successful Premiere for the Global ICPO Centers Network
On 17 October 2026, the ICPO Foundation welcomed over 60 participants representing more than 30 international ICPO Theranostics Centers to the first ICPO Centers Plaza in Vienna.
With the ICPO network now comprising 90 centers worldwide, this new in person interactive workshop format brought together centers from across the globe to exchange experiences, discuss shared challenges, identify future needs, and explore opportunities for collaboration.
Unlike traditional scientific meetings, the Plaza placed the real-world experiences, needs, and priorities of our centers at the heart of the discussions, with one common goal: advancing theranostics and improving patient access worldwide.
The discussions highlighted that, despite differences between healthcare systems, centers face many similar challenges and can benefit significantly from sharing expertise and practical solutions.
WHAT WE HEARD: Key Challenges Across Regions
Four major challenges emerged from the discussions:
Many centers face shortages of qualified nuclear medicine technologists, medical physicists, radiopharmacists, and other specialized professionals. Limited opportunities for practical and advanced training further restrict the expansion of theranostics services.
Inadequate reimbursement and high out-of-pocket costs remain major barriers to treatment access, particularly in regions such as Latin America and India. Appropriate regulatory frameworks are also needed to support the sustainable development of theranostics.
Despite the approval of radiopharmaceutical therapies for earlier treatment lines, patient referrals have not necessarily increased accordingly. Greater awareness among oncologists and other referring physicians, alongside stronger multidisciplinary collaboration, is essential to ensure patients are identified and referred at the right time.
Limited treatment capacity and infrastructure constraints, including the high cost of specialized software, continue to affect centers' ability to establish and expand theranostics services.
The common message: Improving access to theranostics requires more than treatment availability. It also depends on education, affordability, infrastructure, and effective patient referral pathways.
FROM DISCUSSION TO ACTION: Shaping ICPO's 2027 Initiatives
The discussions generated several suggestions that will help shape the development of ICPO Center Support Initiatives for 2027.
Education & Capacity Building: Strengthening training opportunities through the ICPO Academy for Theranostics, with over 1,200 learners in Level 1 and the newly launched Level 2 with advanced clinical cases and international illustrations of multidisciplinary tumor Boards. Moreover, ICPO Centers will also be given opportunities to participate in observational training programs, strengthening hands-on expertise, developing multidisciplinary teams, and building local capacity to expand theranostics services and improve patient access worldwide.
Improving Referral Pathways: Building on ICPO's existing Referral Pathways initiative to increase awareness among referring physicians and share successful approaches between centers. Note that upon accreditation of a center by ICPO, an ICPO Center Link is created and may be used for referral purposes.
Reimbursement & Patient Access: Exploring opportunities to facilitate knowledge exchange and international dialogue on reimbursement, affordability, and regulatory frameworks and to leverage data soon available on cost utility and social impact for individual countries. See below “The power of evidence” for more details.
Clinical Research & Collaboration: Connecting accredited centers with translational research education partners and exploring possibilities to join registries and to identify clinical trial opportunities.
Access to Specialized Technologies: Investigating potential partnerships with software providers to improve affordability and accessibility.
Stronger Network Communication: Exploring dedicated channels for direct communication, peer support, and knowledge sharing between ICPO Centers.
These opportunities will be further evaluated as part of ICPO's planning for 2027.
THE POWER OF EVIDENCE: Supporting Patient Access
Prof. Andrew Scott highlighted several research initiatives that could support future discussions on patient access and reimbursement, including:
These initiatives may provide valuable evidence to support centers in taking part actively in discussions with healthcare authorities, payers, and other stakeholders.
WHAT'S NEXT FOR OUR ICPO CENTERS NETWORK?
The first ICPO Centers Plaza was more than a networking event. It provided an opportunity for centers to contribute directly to the future development of ICPO's international support activities.
The insights gathered in Vienna will help shape our priorities for 2027, focusing on practical solutions and opportunities for collaboration.
Our ambition moving forward is to:
CONNECT centers and strengthen international collaboration.
SHARE expertise, best practices, and experiences across regions.
SUPPORT centers through education, capacity building, and tailored initiatives.
ADVANCE access to theranostics for patients worldwide.
Thank You for Making the First ICPO Centers Plaza a Success!
We sincerely thank all participants for their valuable contributions and open exchange.
For those who could not join us in Vienna: We look forward to welcoming you at future ICPO Centers Plaza events and involving you in upcoming initiatives across our global network.
ONE GLOBAL NETWORK. SHARED EXPERIENCES. ADVANCING THERANOSTICS.
Your ICPO Foundation Team
