Latin American Nuclear Olympiad 2026 on Nuclear Medicine: Radiotheranostics

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In 2026, the Olympiad challenge is radiotheranostics, a key technology in modern nuclear medicine with real potential to expand access to more effective diagnostics and therapies for the health of the Latin American population.

The Latin American Nuclear Olympiad – Hackapower LATAM are held with the following objectives:

a) to contribute to the development of skills focused on complex project management;

b) to foster innovation in the nuclear sector;

c) to strengthen collaboration networks between industry, academia, research centers, and regulatory bodies;

d) to promote and disseminate science and technology, in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Hackapower is the main Olympiad competition, in which challenges are proposed to participants, who must present solutions in the formats and deadlines defined in the notice.

The Nuclear Olympiad were conceived and has been annually implemented since 2023 by Dr. Patricia Wieland and Dr. Eliene Silva, with the support of institutional partners, including professional associations, universities, industries, and technology centers, as well as the collaboration of selected former participants. More information is available at: https://hackapoweroficial.wixsite.com/olimp

In 2026, the main institutional partner for implementing the Olympiad is the Oncidium Foundation. Through its three pillars: improving access to cancer treatments, promoting education, and bringing hope, the Oncidium Foundation is helping to transform cancer treatment and make radioligand therapy more accessible worldwide.

The Center for Innovation, Entrepreneurship, and Technology in Brazil (CIETEC) continues to support the Olympiad, offering the opportunity to continue accelerating the evolution of winning projects through its incubator.

Theme – Radiotheranostics

In 2026, the central theme of the competition is Radiotheranostics, an approach to nuclear medicine that integrates diagnostic biomarkers and therapeutic agents through radiopharmaceuticals that act on the same biological target, allowing for the personalized diagnosis, treatment, and monitoring of diseases. This approach is strategically relevant given the growing incidence of cancer and the need for solutions that combine clinical efficacy, rational use of resources, and scalability in heterogeneous healthcare systems and regulatory environments.

In Latin America, its implementation faces significant structural challenges, including logistical limitations due to the short half-life of radioisotopes, restricted local production, high dependence on imports, high costs, lack of reimbursement by local governments, and the technical and regulatory complexity associated with the production of radiopharmaceuticals in accordance with Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP). In this context, the expansion and qualified dissemination of knowledge in radiotheranostics must be accompanied by integrated strategies that strengthen productive, regulatory, and institutional capacities, promoting equitable access and sustainability.

General Rules

NOTICE 01/2026 - Hackapower LATAM 2026 - Available in Portuguese and Spanish

The Latin American Nuclear Olympiad – Hackapower LATAM 2026 will run from January 19, 2026, the official launch date and opening of registration, until October 21, 2026, with the awards ceremony. Students regularly enrolled in lato sensu postgraduate, master's, doctoral, or post-doc programs in any field of knowledge at recognized universities based in any Latin American country are eligible to participate.