New Global Alliance to Democratize Advanced Cancer Treatment

WIESBADEN, GERMANY – February 25, 2026 – In a landmark move to combat global health inequities, the International Centers for Precision Oncology (ICPO) Foundation and the World Federation of Nuclear Medicine and Biology (WFNMB) have forged a strategic partnership to expand worldwide access to Theranostics, an advanced form of cancer care that combines diagnostics and therapy.

The agreement, signed during the WFNMB Congress in Cartagena, Colombia, this month, establishes a powerful collaborative framework aimed at improving clinical standards, accelerating research, and enhancing education for healthcare professionals, particularly in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).

“This collaboration reflects our shared commitment to advancing Theranostics worldwide and will help address key health policy challenges while expanding equitable access to Theranostics for patients globally,” said Prof. Richard P. Baum, a Trustee of the ICPO Foundation and President of its educational arm, the ICPO Academy for Theranostics. “We are also honored to become an associate member of the WFNMB.”

A Policy-Driven Push for Health Equity

At the heart of this new alliance is the shared goal of supporting the World Health Assembly (WHA) Resolution WHA78.13. Adopted in May 2025, this resolution on “Strengthening Medical Imaging Capacity” represents a global consensus on the urgent need to improve access to diagnostic and therapeutic technologies to fight cancer and other non-communicable diseases. The resolution urges member states to integrate medical imaging into national health plans, invest in infrastructure, and develop the necessary health workforce.

The resolution’s significance cannot be overstated. An influential analysis by the Lancet Oncology Commission demonstrated that implementing its recommendations could prevent the loss of 2.5 million cancer patients over a single decade. The partnership between the ICPO Foundation and WFNMB is a direct response to this call to action, creating a practical mechanism to turn policy into life-saving practice.

Dr. Savvas Frangos, President of the WFNMB, emphasized the synergy. “The strategic partnership between ICPO and WFNMB will not only contribute to the overall goals of both organizations but will also support the implementation of the World Health Assembly resolution WHA78.13,” he stated. This was a central theme at a special satellite symposium in Cartagena, where international stakeholders gathered to map out collaborative pathways for the resolution's rollout.

The Power of a Unique Global Position

The WFNMB brings a unique and powerful asset to the collaboration: since 2019, it has been officially recognized by the World Health Organization (WHO) as the sole non-state actor in the field of nuclear medicine. This official relationship provides the federation with a direct line to global policymakers, allowing it to contribute expert guidance and advocate for the integration of nuclear medicine into broader health strategies like Universal Health Coverage (UHC).

“We value to collaborate with the esteemed WFNMB, as this partnership strongly advances the ICPO Foundation’s mission by deepening its relationship with WFNMB’s global network of associations, societies, and expert working groups in nuclear medicine,” stated Odile Jaume, CEO of the ICPO Foundation. This formal link to the WHO ecosystem provides the new initiative with unparalleled credibility and a framework for navigating the complex landscape of global health policy.

The federation’s role was instrumental in championing the WHA78.13 resolution itself, demonstrating its ability to translate the needs of the medical community into actionable global policy. Now, it will leverage that same influence to help the ICPO Foundation build its network on the ground.

Overcoming the Hurdles to Precision Oncology

Theranostics represents a paradigm shift in oncology, often described with the mantra, “see what you treat, and treat what you see.” It uses targeted radioactive molecules, called radiopharmaceuticals, first to visualize cancer cells anywhere in the body with a PET scan, and then to deliver radiation that precisely destroys those same cells, minimizing damage to healthy tissue. While revolutionary, its implementation is complex and costly.

Establishing a high-quality Theranostics center requires substantial investment in specialized infrastructure, including PET/CT scanners, dedicated radionuclide therapy rooms, and on-site radiopharmacies for handling radioactive materials. More critically, it demands a highly skilled, multidisciplinary team of nuclear medicine physicians, medical physicists, radiochemists, specialized technologists, and nurses—a workforce that is in critically short supply, especially in LMICs.

This is precisely the challenge the ICPO Foundation was created to solve. Established in 2019, the German non-profit works to democratize access to this advanced care by creating a global network of ICPO Accredited Theranostics Centers. The foundation provides a comprehensive model that standardizes clinical practices, facility design, and operational processes to ensure high-quality, safe, and effective patient care. To address the workforce gap, the ICPO Academy for Theranostics offers a robust curriculum of online education and hands-on practical training, empowering a new generation of talent worldwide.

By joining forces, the two organizations create a comprehensive solution. The WFNMB can open doors and align strategic priorities at a national and international level through its global network and WHO relationship, while the ICPO Foundation provides the on-the-ground expertise and standardized model to build the necessary capacity.

As Dr. Gisela Estrada, General Secretary of the WFNMB, noted, the alliance marks a critical turning point. “By combining WFNMB’s global network and international stakeholder engagement with ICPO’s expertise in Theranostics center development and education, the partnership marks an important step in translating global policy into meaningful patient impact.”