BACKGROUND

Officiating Ceremony of Centre For Diagnostic Nuclear Imaging that was graced by YBhg. Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin

This small unit started as part of the Department of Radiology at the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, in 2003. Subsequently, the unit was restructured and repositioned as part of the Dean's Office and became known as the Nuclear Imaging Unit.

In view of the increasing need for manpower and human capital development as part of the government's initiative in improving diagnostic nuclear imaging services for the people, the unit took the initiative to start a development project. Nuclear Imaging was then announced as a niche area, along with the tagline of the Research mission of the faculty and university.

In the year 2008, under the 9th Malaysian Plan, the Centre for Diagnostic Nuclear Imaging Project obtained approval from the Malaysian Ministry of Higher Education. The project started the following year and took 11 months to complete and be commissioned. On the 1st of April 2010, the centre started its operation and became the first facility with PET/CT equipment installed under the Ministry of Higher Education for teaching, learning, and research development by providing service to the public.

In retrospect, during the early phase of development, the unit contributed to various teaching activities in diagnostic imaging programs in other institutions, leading to good academic and research networking. The research activities of the unit were partly supported by international partners through financial and non-financial assistance, including Ospedale Niguarda, Milan, Italy; the Oncology Research Foundation, Italy; and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Austria. The unit also initiated research collaborations with other local institutions and hospitals.

Today, the unit is ready to provide clinical services in PET/CT by expanding from oncology and introducing new clinical areas of PET/CT in infection, inflammation, cardiology, and neurology. References have been received from public and private hospitals, including university hospitals. In support of the government’s aspiration and in line with the Strategic Plan of the Malaysian Ministry of Higher Education, the centre will spearhead the research and academic development in clinical integrated diagnostic imaging specialization. From 1st October 2010, the unit is officially known as the CENTRE FOR DIAGNOSTIC NUCLEAR IMAGING.

Updated:: 17/11/2025 [fatini]