MyNuCLEaR, a nationwide collaborative initiative, serves as a comprehensive resource for healthcare professionals (HCPs) to explore
nuclear medicine and innovative therapies like theranostics with the aim of improving patient care. Nuclear medicine is a specialised medical field where small, controlled doses of radioactive material is used to help detect and/or treat certain diseases such as prostate cancer. It is a strictly-regulated field that has been practiced for over 100 years, with ongoing research paving the way for continuous improvements in how diseases are managed and how well patients can survive—and even thrive—on their patient journey.
An acronym for Malaysian Nuclear Medicine Care Locator, Education and Resources website, MyNuCLEaR is spearheaded by the Malaysian Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (MSNMMI) in collaboration with the Ministry of Health. [www.msnmmi.org.my/mynuclear/] MyNuCLEaR is a multidimensional resource that supports access to:
● Knowledge by serving as a constantly updating information hub on nuclear medicine practices that ranges from radiopharmaceuticals to new diagnostic and therapeutic innovations like theranostics.
● Continuous professional development through structured educational programmes for future and early-career nuclear medicine physicians as well as other nuclear medicine allied health professionals in Malaysia.
● Advancement through connecting researchers and supporting collaborative adoption of innovative nuclear medicine technologies.
● Care through strengthening nationwide referral pathways and streamlining patient flow for timely diagnosis and treatment.
● Facilities and services through a comprehensive, searchable directory of accredited nuclear medicine facilities across the country—for patients, this can simplify the process of finding the care they need.
“MyNuCLEaR is Malaysia’s first fully integrated nuclear medicine resource platform, linking patients, specialists, healthcare providers and researchers across the country,” said Dr Mahayuddin Abdul Manap, President of MSNMMI. MyNuCLEaR has been developed through a multi-agency collaborative effort involving diverse expertise and industry support from Novartis Malaysia with the objective of overcoming knowledge gaps among patients and HCPs. Serving as a centralised information hub, MyNuCLEaR streamlines access to nuclear medicine services, enabling timely, informed, and coordinated patient care nationwide, he added.
Innovations in nuclear medicine result in measurable improvements to patient outcomes, explained Associate Professor Dr Tan Teik Hin, Nuclear Medicine Physician. He said current developments in nuclear medicine provide earlier detection and greater treatment precision, making a significant difference for patients. “Take prostate cancer, for example, the incidence is on the rise and is often detected at advanced stages. Recent advancements in nuclear medicine known as theranostics help doctors detect even small tumours and sites where the cancer has spread (metastatic lesions) using Prostate-Specific Membrane Antigen (PSMA) imaging, followed by radioligand therapy (RLT) to deliver treatment directly to these tumours and metastatic lesions, which minimises impact on healthy cells. Simply put, advanced nuclear medicine techniques like theranostics enable faster detection, more targeted treatment, fewer side effects and ultimately, better survival outcomes and quality of life for patients,” he said.
Sanjeev Balachandran, Country President of Novartis Malaysia, Brunei and Asia Emerging Markets (AEM), said: “MyNuCLEaR sets a new benchmark for the nation and serves as a stepping-stone for all patients in need of nuclear medicine services to better understand and manage their treatment journey. This underscores our mission at Novartis to improve and extend people’s lives, by overcoming barriers and harnessing innovation, one milestone at a time. We are proud to be part of this endeavour and hope to work ever more closely with the Ministry of Health and MSNMMI to enhance the development of nuclear medicine in Malaysia.”
By leading the way in early diagnosis, personalised care, and better patient outcomes, MyNuCLEaR offers Malaysians a more informed and streamlined treatment journey.
