‘Thanks to us, isotopes arrive safely wherever they are needed’
The work that Rohen and his team do often goes unnoticed, but its impact on the lives of cancer patients is invaluable. They ensure that medical isotopes reach hospitals and treatment centres safely, on time, and exactly as agreed, so doctors can use them to diagnose and treat patients without delay.
Rohen Schuring
POSITION: Transport & Logistics Manager
TEAM: Logistics compliance team
JOINED NRG PALLAS IN: 2002
‘To earn some extra money while studying engineering physics, I used to drive trucks across Europe on weekends and during school holidays,’ says Rohen. At the time, he never imagined it would lead to his role as Transport & Logistics Manager. ‘I had just started working in a research department at NRG PALLAS when a colleague asked me if I wanted to accompany a shipment of isotopes from Petten to the United States. They’d heard that I had logistics experience. On that trip, I immediately saw ways we could improve the process. Today, I lead a team that manages the global transport of our medical isotopes. It’s important and rewarding work because these isotopes are essential for diagnosing, treating and relieving the pain of cancer patients.’
No time to lose
What Rohen and his team do is a bit like high-performance sports. ‘We ship the isotopes to every corner of the world and make sure they get there quickly and safely. We take care of everything – packaging, permits, certifications, shipping documents and customs clearance. Every country has its own rules and laws, so there’s a mountain of paperwork.’
What's more, it’s often a race against the clock. ‘The longer isotopes are in transit, the less effective they become. We usually have very little time to get them where they need to be. The moment we hear a patient needs an isotope, we get to work. We book flights, arrange transport and make sure that every detail is in place. Sometimes I have to get up early or work through the night or on weekends. But when I think of the patient we’re doing this for, I forget all of that immediately.’
Thousands of diagnoses a day
The ampoules containing isotopes are carefully packed and shipped around the world. But before reaching the patient, they make an important stop. ‘Laboratories add a tracer — a specific protein — to each isotope.
"That could cost lives. I don’t even want to think about it."
This tracer ensures the isotope travels to the right place in the body, whether it’s to irradiate a tumour or relieve pain. Once ready, the isotopes are sent to hospitals and treatment centres, where they’re used in thousands of diagnoses and treatments every day. That’s why our transport planning has to be spot-on, because every detail matters.’
The invisible link
Sometimes, Rohen imagines what would happen if he and his team weren’t there. ‘Doctors would be left empty-handed, and patients wouldn’t get the isotopes they need. Treatment would be delayed. That could cost lives. I don’t even want to think about it.’ He never loses sight of the human side of his work. ‘Sometimes a shipment is delayed. I can picture the patients, perhaps waiting anxiously for treatment. That makes me go the extra mile. Patients and doctors often don’t know what we do, but thanks to our efforts, isotopes arrive safely and on time, exactly where they’re needed most. I get to do that for 30,000 people every day.’