PAMELA WEIDENBAUM – ARCHITECT, ARGENTINA NUCLEAR MEDICINE


Services in favour of health infrastructure


Architect Pamela Weidenbaum explains how nuclear medicine services can provide immeasurable value in the diagnosis, staging, and treatment of pathologies such as cancer, cardiovascular diseases, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, and dementia, with reference to a new facility in Mendoza, Argentina.


The progress of technology, and particularly the use of nuclear energy in medicine, has contributed to the diagnosis and treatment of high-impact diseases within our societies. It is undeniable that the increased life expectancy has led health systems to address diseases that concentrate a substantial portion of the health- related problems. Cancer, cardiovascular diseases, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, dementias, among others, occupy a prominent position in the future of medical practice. Nuclear medicine services provide immeasurable value in the diagnosis, staging, and treatment of these pathologies. The growth of services such as PET, Gamma Camera, radiotherapy, metabolic therapies, theranostics, etc., challenges us to spread knowledge about the facilities required for the effective and safe development of these practices. We will use a specific case to explain


the key factors in planning projects of this nature.


In 2019, the School of Nuclear Medicine,


located in the city of Mendoza and a pioneer in Latin America in the application of nuclear energy in health, decided to undertake a project for the installation of a second cyclotron and radiopharmacy laboratory. With the confirmation of this new equipment, the project for the construction of the new building necessary to house it and all the new laboratories required to develop a state-of-the-art and high-quality radiopharmacy was initiated.


School of Nuclear Medicine in Mendoza. Today, the completion of the project is


being concluded, and after countless challenges, scenarios, and anecdotes, we are able to present the final result.


Cyclotron, production laboratories, and PET A cyclotron is a type of particle accelerator that constantly propels a beam of charged particles (protons) in a circular trajectory. When the proton beam comes into contact with stable isotopes, a nuclear reaction occurs, converting the stable isotopes into radioisotopes. These


Pamela Weidenbaum


Pamela is an Argentine architect, specialised in hospital architecture. She understands the importance of


functionality and zoning in healthcare buildings, and applies innovative materials suitable for each project without


forgetting about design and the sensations that users will experience when navigating through her projects. Pamela enjoys connecting with others, working in teams, and


incorporating technology, warmth, and originality without losing sight of the details


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radioisotopes, subsequently, after passing through production laboratories, are transformed into a drug called radiopharmaceutical, which can be injected into patients. When scanned with PET/CT or PET/MRI equipment (positron emission tomography), images are obtained that allow not only the description of the morphology and location of a tumour but also its activity, as it is a metabolic image.


Needs programme For the building programme, the background of the existing building and other more contemporary projects or buildings under construction were considered, along with the regulations of CNEA (National Atomic Energy Commission), ARN (Nuclear Regulatory Authority), and ANMAT (National Administration of Drugs, Food, and Medical Technology). A multidisciplinary team was formed, composed mainly of institutional staff familiar with this type of equipment, ensuring a clear understanding of needs, functionality, and the


IFHE DIGEST 2025


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