Loveworld Medical Centre Takes Lead in Africa’s Precision Cancer Care Push

Loveworld Medical Centre is taking a major step towards strengthening specialised cancer care in Africa with the hosting of the 2026 International Symposium on Radiopharmaceutical Therapy (ISRT), bringing together leading healthcare professionals and researchers to advance precision oncology on the continent.

The two-day symposium, held in Lagos from August 28 to 29, focuses on radiopharmaceutical therapy, nuclear medicine, molecular imaging and radiotheranostics — emerging areas increasingly shaping the future of personalised cancer treatment.

The event is an official conference of the World Association of Radiopharmaceutical and Molecular Therapy (WARMTH) and is being organised by Loveworld Medical Centre in partnership with the International Centers for Precision Oncology (ICPO), the Chris Oyakhilome Foundation International (COFI) and other strategic partners.

The gathering underscores Loveworld Medical Centre’s growing ambition to serve not only as a provider of specialised healthcare but also as a platform for medical education, scientific collaboration and the development of advanced healthcare capacity in Nigeria and Africa.

At the heart of the symposium is radiotheranostics, a medical approach that combines molecular imaging with targeted radionuclide therapy to detect and treat diseases at the cellular level.

By bringing experts in nuclear medicine, oncology, radiopharmacy and molecular imaging to Lagos, Loveworld Medical Centre is creating a platform for knowledge exchange on how such technologies can be adapted to the African healthcare environment.

The initiative is being driven under the leadership of Dr. Deola Phillips, Executive Minister, Ministry of Healing, Health and Social Services and Chairman of Loveworld Medical Centre.

Her leadership has provided an institutional foundation for the centre’s focus on clinical excellence, medical innovation, professional development and service delivery.

Also playing a key role is Dr. Emeka Eze, Chief Medical Director of Loveworld Medical Centre and Chairman of ISRT 2026, who has led the professional and strategic coordination of the symposium.

Through the event, Loveworld Medical Centre is seeking to deepen collaboration between African healthcare professionals and international experts while exposing practitioners to emerging developments in precision oncology.

The symposium features scientific sessions and practical training covering radiopharmacy, clinical theragnostics, molecular imaging and the broader challenges of developing nuclear medicine services in Africa.

Discussions are also examining workforce development, regulation, infrastructure and the practical steps required to make advanced radiopharmaceutical therapies more accessible to African patients.

A key highlight of the programme is the Saul Hertz Best Abstract Award, established in honour of Dr. Saul Hertz, the pioneer of radioiodine therapy who is widely recognised as the Father of Theranostics.

Sponsored by his daughter, Barbara Hertz, curator of the Dr. Saul Hertz Archives, the award recognises outstanding early-career researchers working in nuclear medicine, radiopharmaceutical therapy, molecular imaging and precision oncology.

The partnership with WARMTH gives the Lagos meeting an international scientific dimension, while the participation of ICPO reinforces its focus on precision medicine and multidisciplinary cancer care.

COFI is also supporting the initiative, reflecting a broader emphasis on linking healthcare advancement with humanitarian service and improved wellbeing.

For Loveworld Medical Centre, however, the significance of ISRT 2026 extends beyond a two-day medical conference.

The centre is using the platform to position Lagos as a hub for scientific exchange and specialised healthcare while helping build the professional expertise needed to introduce and sustain advanced cancer treatment technologies in Africa.

As cancer remains a major health challenge across the continent, Loveworld Medical Centre’s investment in precision oncology places it within a growing movement seeking to shift cancer care towards earlier detection, personalised treatment and more targeted therapies.

The symposium therefore represents another step in the centre’s drive to expand the frontiers of specialised healthcare in Nigeria and contribute to the development of a stronger precision medicine ecosystem across Africa.