Established by Presidential Decree 459/87 (Government Gazette 215/8-12-1987)
Ministerial Installation Decision: Υ4α /29261/03 (Government Gazette 750/11-6-2003)
Internal Rules of Procedure: Government Gazette 768/6-3-2019 Issue B, as amended by Government Gazette 5399/11-9-2023 Issue B
Field of Study / Scope
The Laboratory of Nuclear Medicine of the Faculty of Medicine of the Democritus University of Thrace is part of the Morphological – Clinical Laboratory Department. Its mission is to cover the educational and research activities primarily of the students and staff of the Faculty, as well as the clinical needs in the following fields of Nuclear Medicine:
a) The diagnosis and treatment of diseases of the Respiratory, Digestive, Urinary, Musculoskeletal, Nervous, Endocrine, Cardiovascular, and Lymphatic systems.
b) The training of students through laboratory exercises that serve as an essential supplement to the teaching of courses.
c) The operation of the following departments:
- In vivo imaging (scintigraphy, positron emission tomography),
- In vitro radioimmunoassays of biological materials, and
- The therapeutic inpatient department (in specially shielded patient rooms).
The Laboratory aims to:
- Meet the teaching and research needs of the Faculty of Medicine, as well as other departments of the Democritus University of Thrace, at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels, in the field of Nuclear Medicine.
- Provide laboratory training for students of the Faculty of Medicine in the subject of Nuclear Medicine, as well as for students of Molecular Biology.
- Provide specialization and continuous education/training for physicians, nursing staff, technologists, and laboratory technicians.
- Serve social needs, whenever specific assistance is requested in areas within the laboratory’s expertise (diagnostic imaging examinations, in vitro assays, patient treatments).
- Engage in any form of cooperation with research centers and academic institutions, both domestic and international, within the framework of academic or research programs, provided that their scientific goals align with and complement those of the laboratory.
- Collaborate with other research laboratories of public entities, organizations, institutes, enterprises, municipalities, and other social and scientific bodies or charitable foundations, aiming to improve the provision of social services to the population.
- Organize scientific lectures, workshops, seminars, symposia, conferences, and other scientific events, produce publications and editions, and invite distinguished Greek and foreign scientists.
- Provide services to private individuals, as provided for in Presidential Decree 159/1984 (A’ 53) (diagnostic imaging examinations, in vitro assays, treatments).
- Establish a library specializing in the field’s subject matter.
Personnel
The laboratory is staffed by members of the Teaching and Research Staff (D.E.P.) of the Faculty of Medicine whose field of expertise aligns with the laboratory’s scientific scope, members of the Special Technical Laboratory Staff (E.T.E.P.), as well as other essential scientific personnel (NHS/ESY physicians, medical physicists, molecular biologists), technologists, laboratory assistants, and administrative staff appointed in accordance with current regulations.
Facilities and Operation
The laboratory, classified as Category A3, is established at the University General Hospital of Alexandroupolis in specially designed areas compliant with radiation protection regulations, housing all specialized equipment required for its operation.
The facilities in Building B1 (Level 0) include: a hot lab for radiopharmaceutical preparation, a radioactive waste storage area, radiopharmaceutical administration rooms, a “hot” waiting room for patients, gamma-camera imaging rooms, a PET/CT scanner room, inpatient and recovery rooms for positron imaging, an in vitro laboratory, a blood collection room, a patient stress test area, material and drug storage, a secretariat, offices for doctors and staff, staff changing rooms, and waiting areas for companions and visitors.
In Building Γ1 (Level -2), there are two specialized shielded inpatient wards for patient hospitalization, along with radioactive waste storage facilities, specialized decay tanks, and a nursing station.
Education and Research
- Nuclear Medicine courses for Faculty of Medicine students.
- Laboratory training for Faculty of Medicine students.
- Laboratory training for students of the Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics.
- Participation in postgraduate clinical courses within the field of Nuclear Medicine.
- Participation in Postgraduate Programs (MSc) of the Faculty of Medicine.
- Participation in clinical research programs of the Faculty of Medicine.
- Supervision of doctoral theses (PhDs), many of which focus strictly on Nuclear Medicine, while others contribute to theses conducted in various clinics of the Democritus University of Thrace Medical School.
Faculty Members
Director: Pipitsa Valsamaki, Assistant Professor
Contact Information
- Telephone: +30 2551353587
- E-Mail: pivalsam@med.duth.gr
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