Thomas J. Ruth, PhD, FRSC, FSRS, receives SNMMI Georg Charles de Hevesy Nuclear Pioneer Award
Reston, VA-Thomas J. Ruth, PhD, FRSC, FSRS, a scientist known for his contributions to nuclear medicine and nuclear chemistry, was awarded the Georg Charles de Hevesy Nuclear Pioneer Award this year. Ruth received the award from the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SNMMI) at its 2021 annual meeting.
Ruth is recognized for his significant work in nuclear chemistry, particularly the identification and development of radioisotopes for positron emission tomography (PET) imaging, which has helped drive adoption of the technology. He also played a key role in developing cyclotron-based technology to produce the medical isotope technetium-99m (99mTc) without the need for a nuclear reactor.
“Dr. Ruth has been a pioneer in the radiopharmaceutical sciences for many years,” said SNMMI President Alan Packard, PhD. determined their optimal uses and developed new ways of making them. Many nuclear medicine researchers have benefited from Dr. Ruth’s mentoring over the years, and he has left a legacy that has benefited the field greatly. “
Ruth received his Masters in Nuclear Chemistry from the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia in 1967, followed by his PhD in Nuclear Spectroscopy in 1973 from Clark University in Worcester, Massachusetts. He began his career in 1976 at the Brookhaven Laboratory in Upton, New York, and then moved to TRIUMF in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada in 1980. Ruth started his career at TRIUMF as a research assistant and continued to work in many functions, including director of the University of British Columbia-TRIUMF PET program, until his retirement in 2012. He is currently Senior Research Scientist emeritus at TRIUMF and the British Columbia Cancer Agency. Ruth is also an Associate Professor in the Medicine Department of the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada and the Physics and Astronomy Department of the University of Victoria in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada.
During his career at TRIUMF, Ruth oversaw the installation of four PET scanners at the University of British Columbia Hospital and the installation of the TRIUMF 13 MeV (TR-13) cyclotron at TRIUMF. His professional successes helped secure investments in building the TRIUMF Institute for Advanced Medical Isotopes – a new facility that will host much of TRIUMF’s life sciences research in the years to come.
“I am honored to receive the Georg Charles de Hevesy Pioneer Award from SNMMI,” said Ruth. “I’ve had the pleasure of working with so many colleagues who have encouraged, challenged and worked with me throughout my career. Without your support, my services would not have been possible. “
Every year, SNMMI awards the Georg Charles de Hevesy Nuclear Medicine Pioneer Prize to a person for outstanding contributions in the field of nuclear medicine. De Hevesy received the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1943 for his work on determining the absorption, distribution, metabolism and elimination of radioactive compounds in the human body. His work led to the establishment of nuclear medicine as a tool for diagnosis and therapy and he is considered the father of nuclear medicine. SNMMI has presented the de Hevesy Award every year since 1960 to recognize pioneering work in the field of nuclear medicine.
Previous winners include numerous Nobel Prize winners – such as Ernest Lawrence, who built the world’s first cyclotron for the production of radionuclides, and Glenn Seaborg, who discovered more than half a dozen new elements.
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