With a generous support from the Arab Fund for Economic and Social Development , we are pleased to announce the third edition of the Physics Without Frontiers (PWF) program, organised by the International Centre for Theoretical Physics (ICTP) in collaboration with Charmo University, Al-Karkh University of Sciences, and Bright Technical and Vocational Institute. The School titled “Atoms for Health: Exploring the Future of Cancer Medicine" will be held in Sulaymaniyah city, Kurdistan Region of Iraq, from November 24th to 27th, 2024.
 
This four-day event aims to delve into the forefront of nuclear medicine and its applications in healthcare, including advancements in AI techniques relevant to the field. This school will provide a platform for undergraduates and graduates in the following fields to explore new ideas and discoveries: Physics, Medical Physics, Chemistry, Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Biology, Pharmacy, Medicine, and Healthcare.
 
Eligibility:

1. Students of the above fields from all universities in the Kurdistan region and Iraq can apply.
2. Both undergraduate and graduate students are eligible to apply.
3. Disciplines include Physics, Medical Physics, Chemistry, Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Biology, Pharmacy, Medicine, and Healthcare.
 
You can submit your application here.

Key Dates:

• The application deadline is November 10th, 2024.
• The instruction language of the school is English.
• Attendance at all sessions is mandatory for receiving the certificate.
• Selection will be based on the information provided in the application form.
• Space is limited, so interested participants are encouraged to apply early to secure

their spot in this comprehensive learning opportunity.

• Students who complete the course will receive an ICTP-PWF certificate.

Goals and deliverables:
 
At the end of the course, the student should have acquired the following skills:

• Knowledge of the Physics behind Nuclear Medicine, among which isotope production, instrumentations and their quality control, and radiation protection.
• Preparation of radiopharmaceuticals and their quality control, and personalized dose preparation in compliance with pharmaceutical and radiation-protection rules.
• Understand the normal bio-distribution of the radiopharmaceutical including route of excretion and organ receiving the highest radiation dose (i.e., the “critical organ”).
• Understanding Artificial intelligence (AI) and its role in advancing nuclear medicine and molecular imaging.
• Document all the activities undertaken in accordance with Standard Operating Procedures and institutional guidelines, as a part of a Quality Assurance System.

List of speakers:
 
Speakers from abroad (Travelling from Italy to Kurdistan)
 
Fabrizio Scopelliti, Radiopharmacist PhD, Head of Radiopharmacy, Cannizzaro Emergency Hospital, Catania, Italy.
Farmesk Abubaker, Physicist, PhD, Lecturer, Charmo University, PostDoc Fellowship, INFN-LNS, Catania, Italy.
Mattia Riondato, Radiopharmacist, PhD, Lecturer, Clinical University Hospital San Martino, Genova, Italy.
Marco Maspero, Radiopharmacist, PhD, National Council of Research (CNR), Institute of Molecular Bioimaging and Physiology (IBFM), Segrate (MI), Italy.
 
Speakers from abroad (in remote Mode)
 
Marco Pometti, Radiochemist PhD, Cannizzaro Emergency Hospital, Catania, Italy.
Davide Romano, Nuclear Medicine Physician, Cannizzaro Emergency Hospital, Catania, Italy.
Francesco Panasiti, Nuclear Medicine Physician, Provincial Health Hospital, Catania, Italy.
Giuseppina Ricciardi, Hospital Pharmacist, Cannizzaro Emergency Hospital, Catania, Italy.
Mattia Tosto, Nuclear Medicine Technician, Garibaldi Hospital, Catania, Italy.
 
Speakers from Kurdistan and Iraq
 
Tarik Rashid, Software Engineer, PhD, Professor, Director of AI Center and Dean of Computer Science and Engineering , University of Kurdistan Hawlèr, Hawler, Kurdistan Region-Iraq.
Ashraf Ibrahim, Medical Physicist, PhD, Professor, Lecturer, Al-Karkh University of Science, Baghdad, Iraq.
Bryar Hassan , Software Engineer, PhD, Assistant Professor of AI, Lecturer, University of Kurdistan Hawlèr, Hawler, Kurdistan Region-Iraq.
Hezha Rasul, Drug Chemists, PhD, Assistant Professor, Lecturer, Charmo University, Sulaimani, Kurdistan Region-Iraq.
Farah Anwer, Nuclear Medicine Physician, Jordanian Board certificated, Vice-President of Nuclear Medicine Department, Warith International Cancer Institute, Karbala, Iraq.
Jalil Ali, Board certified Radiation Oncologist Center, Director of Residency training, Zhianwa Cancer Center (ZCC), Sulaimani, Kurdistan Region-Iraq.
Dastan Khalid, Physicist, PhD, Lecturer, Chair of Mathematics and Natural Science Department, American University of Iraq-Sulaimani, Sulaimani, Kurdistan Region-Iraq.
Harez Hassan, Clinical Pharmacist, Manager of Hiwa Pharmacy, Hiwa Cancer Hospital.
Bakhtyar Talabani, Physician, Assistant Professor, Lecturer, Bright Technical Vocational Institute, Sulaimani, Kurdistan Region-Iraq.
Srakhel Fadhel, Physician, Lecturer, Bright Technical Vocational Institute, Sulaimani, Kurdistan Region-Iraq.
Soma Saeed, Medical Physicist, PhD, Assistant Lecturer, Sulaimani Polytechnic University, Sulaimani, Kurdistan Region-Iraq
Farman Shareef, Microbiologist, MSc., Lecturer, Charmo University, Sulaimani, Kurdistan Region-Iraq.
Payam Abubakr, Civil Engineer, Communication Assistant, American University of Iraq_Sulaimani, Sulaimani, Kurdistan Region-Iraq.
 
Project Coordinators:
 
Fabrizio Scopelliti, PhD, Radiopharmacist, Cannizzaro Hospital, Italy, PWF volunteer. Farmesk Abubaker, PhD, Physicist, Lecturer, Charmo University, PostDoc Fellowship, INFN-LNS, Catania, Italy, PWF volunteer.
 
Local Coordinators:
 
Hezha Rasul, Assistant Professor, Director of the International Relation Office, Charmo University, Drug Chemistry.
Peshawa Amin, Head of the Medical Physics Department, Charmo University, Material Science.
 
List of partners:
 
ICTP/PWF (Italy),

• Arab Fund for economic and social development (Kuwait)
• Charmo University (Kurdistan Region-Iraq),
• Cannizzaro Emergency Hospital (Italy),
• Al-Karkh University of Science (Baghdad, Iraq),
• Bright Technical Vocational Institute (Kurdistan Region-Iraq),
• International Warith Cancer Institute (Karbala, Iraq), and
• Hiwa Cancer Hospital (Kurdistan Region-Iraq).