EANM Opens Research Awards for Alpha Radioligand Therapy in Prostate Cancer
Alpha radioligand therapy has moved rapidly from experimental concept to clinical reality over the past decade. Unlike beta-emitting isotopes, which deposit energy over a relatively long path through tissue, alpha particles transfer their energy within a distance of just a few cell diameters - allowing targeted delivery of high-dose radiation to tumors while minimizing exposure to surrounding healthy tissue. The approach has attracted intense interest in prostate cancer, where the androgen axis and prostate-specific membrane antigen provide targetable molecular handles.
The European Association of Nuclear Medicine (EANM) has now created a formal research award to accelerate early-career work in this field. The 2026 EANM Young Scientist Network Award, supported by Advanced Accelerator Applications (a Novartis company), offers three prize tiers totaling 70,000 euros for research proposals focused on advancing alpha radioligand therapy (alpha-RLT) in prostate cancer. Applications are open through May 18, 2026.
Award Structure and Eligibility
The three award categories are: Platinum (40,000 euros), Gold (20,000 euros), and Silver (10,000 euros). Eligible applicants include PhD candidates, postdoctoral fellows, junior faculty, and clinicians-in-training who are within 10 years of their terminal degree and affiliated with an institution in an EANM member country.
Submissions must consist of a research proposal addressing a clinically meaningful question in prostate cancer treatment using alpha-RLT. The EANM has identified three priority areas: optimizing the clinical use of alpha-emitting radioligands, tailoring treatment protocols to individual patient characteristics, and identifying patient subgroups most likely to benefit from the therapy. These priorities reflect the practical translation challenges that currently limit alpha-RLT from reaching its full clinical potential.
"Alpha radioligand therapy is rapidly emerging as a transformative frontier in precision oncology, and we strongly believe in the talent of researchers at the beginning of their careers in this field," said EANM President Paola Anna Erba. "This award was designed to nurture their growth by pairing research excellence with structured training, mentorship, and collaborative networking opportunities."
What Alpha-RLT Research Needs
The alpha-RLT field faces several open scientific questions that the award is designed to address. Dosimetry - calculating the radiation dose delivered to tumor tissue versus healthy organs - is substantially more challenging for alpha emitters than for conventional isotopes, partly because alpha particles are difficult to image with standard nuclear medicine cameras. Treatment sequencing and combination strategies with immunotherapy, chemotherapy, or other targeted agents are still poorly defined. Patient selection biomarkers beyond PSMA expression are under active investigation.
The field's clinical foundation is growing. Actinium-225-labeled PSMA-targeted agents are in late-stage clinical development, and several trials are reporting response data in metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer populations that have exhausted other treatment options. However, the biology of why some patients respond dramatically while others do not, and how alpha-RLT resistance develops, remains incompletely understood.
Recognition at EANM'26 Congress
Winners will be announced at the EANM'26 Annual Congress, held October 17-21, 2026, at the Austria Center Vienna. Awardees will present their projects in a dedicated session open to all congress attendees and will participate in an interactive workshop with the scientific review committee. The EANM frames this combination of funding and structured peer engagement as a key feature of the award, distinguishing it from grants that provide money without accompanying professional development.
EANM is the largest nonprofit medical organization dedicated to nuclear medicine in Europe, with over 9,400 participants attending its 2025 Annual Congress - a record attendance. The organization coordinates with 40 national nuclear medicine societies and 20 non-European affiliated bodies. Applications and full eligibility information are available through the EANM website, with submissions accepted via ysn@eanm.org until 23:59 CEST on May 18, 2026.