UAB startup LifeNuclear launches TheraGuide, a radiation safety guidance platform for radiopharmaceutical therapy

On August 7, LifeNuclear, a medical technology startup incubated by the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB), announced the launch of TheraGuide, a digital platform designed to help patients undergoing radiopharmaceutical cancer treatment understand and follow radiation safety guidance after discharge.

Radiopharmaceutical therapy uses radioactive drugs to target cancer cells while minimizing damage to surrounding healthy tissue. As the therapy's applications expand, patients are typically required to read and follow complex written instructions after treatment, which can be difficult for some patients and caregivers to understand and execute.

Dr. Remo George

LifeNuclear was founded by Dr. Remo George, an assistant professor in UAB's Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging Science program. The company's first product, TheraGuide, aims to transform traditional paper-based instructions into clearer, more accessible digital guidance content for patients undergoing radiopharmaceutical therapy and their caregivers.

According to the company, the TheraGuide platform includes guidance content tailored to different treatment protocols, plain-language educational materials, interactive checklists, multilingual support, and personalized schedules, delivering relevant information to patients at different stages of treatment rather than providing static materials all at once. George stated that the platform's goal is to make complex radiation safety requirements easier to understand and follow, while allowing patients to conveniently consult the information when questions arise at home.

LifeNuclear has achieved several milestones, including signing a licensing agreement with UAB, developing a TheraGuide prototype, and completing beta testing through Apple's TestFlight platform. The company has also assembled a multidisciplinary leadership team, with interim CEO Gae Stoops overseeing business operations, commercialization efforts, migration of the Apple Developer Organization account, and prototype development.

UAB's Bill L. Harbert Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship was involved in the company's approval and licensing agreement processes. George noted that bringing a healthcare product to market requires navigating legal, regulatory, and organizational processes, and the company will continue refining TheraGuide based on feedback from clinical partners while preparing for pilot evaluations and future collaborations. As radiopharmaceutical therapy continues to gain traction, LifeNuclear believes digital guidance tools have the potential to become an important support for patients managing their treatment safely outside the hospital.