New ICPO Initiative: Fostering Center-to-Center Best Practices Exchange and Innovation Awareness

The ICPO Foundation has identified world-class conferences organized by Theranostics Centers from its ICPO Centers network, which programs are fully aligned with its mission of growing patient access. The new ICPO initiative called “Fostering Center-to-Center Best Practices Exchange and Innovation Awareness” consists of selecting and inviting a few representatives from ICPO Centers network to these conferences offering them special attendance conditions. 

ADVANTAGES FOR PARTICIPATING ICPO CENTERS 
The program offers direct knowledge exchange with leading international experts through conferences and visits to local Theranostics centers. Participants gain exposure to best clinical practices that align with global standards and can be implemented locally upon their return. Additionally, the experience fosters Long lasting impact of center-to-center collaboration thanks to strong professional relationships valuable over the career span 

Through this initiative, Danny Mena Cortes, Coordinator Nuclear Medicine, Hospital Oncologia San Jose, Senora, Mexico and Jorge Schalch, Head of Nuclear Medicine, Hospital Angeles del Pedregal, Mexico City, Mexico attended the PSMA & Beyond Conference organised by Johannes Czernin, Acting Chair, Department of Nuclear Medicine and Theranostics 
University of California (UCLA), Los Angeles, and Jérémie Calais, Associate Professor and Vice Chair, Department of Nuclear Medicine and Theranostics at UCLA, Los Angeles, and Thomas Hope, Professor in Residence and Vice Chair of Clinical Operations, at University of California (UCSF), San Francisco, all USA.  

Dany Mena Cortes and Jorge Schalch left with some key takeaways from PSMA & Beyond Conference that they will reflect on when back at their Centers: 

• PSMA Theranostics Continues to Lead 
  PSMA PET and ¹⁷⁷Lu-PSMA remain central, but the focus is now on optimizing outcomes through better patient selection and treatment strategies 

• Patient Selection Is Critical 
  Dual-tracer imaging (PSMA + FDG PET) is emerging as a key tool to reduce treatment failure and improve outcomes 

• Understanding Resistance 
  Tumor biology, including heterogeneity, DNA repair mechanisms, and immune landscape plays a major role in response to therapy 

• Personalized Dosimetry Matters 
  Moving toward individualized treatment planning is essential to improve efficacy while protecting organs at risk 

• Combination Therapies on the Rise 
  New strategies combining RLT with hormonal therapy, PARP inhibitors, chemotherapy, and immunotherapy are under active investigation 

• Innovation Beyond PSMA 
  Emerging targets such as FAP, GRPR, and DLL3 are expanding the Theranostics landscape 

• AI & Quantitative Imaging 
  Data-driven approaches are increasingly important for decision-making and prognostication 

• Ongoing Challenges 
  Access, cost, and standardization remain key barriers to global implementation 

Conference: PSMA & Beyond Conference 2026 
Conference organizers: Professors Jeremie Calais, Johannes Czernin and Thomas Hope 
Location: UCLA Luskin Conference Center, Los Angeles, USA '
Date: March 26-27, 2026 
Cooperation partner: UCLA, UCSF and Prostate Cancer Foundation PCF 
www.psmaconference.ucsf.edu