August Schubiger deceased

August Schubiger was born in 1945. After the education as a teacher, he studied chemistry at the University of Zurich, where he also obtained his doctorate in 1972. As a postdoctoral researcher in radiochemistry, he worked at the Swiss Federal Institute for Reactor Physics (EIR) in Würenlingen, Switzerland, which later became part of the Paul Scherrer Institute (PSI). He spent a year as an IAEA expert in Brazil and two and a half years as a fellow at the Max Planck Institute for Nuclear Physics in Heidelberg, Germany.

In 1976, August Schubiger returned to the EIR, marking the beginning of a distinguished career that lasted over three decades. His appointment as Associate Professor in 1992 and later as Full Professor of Radiopharmaceutical Sciences at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH) Zurich in 1997, together with his authorship of over 200 scientific articles, underscored his scientific expertise. He founded the Center for Radiopharmaceutical Sciences, a joint project of ETH Zurich, PSI and the University Hospital Zurich, which he headed until his retirement in 2010.

His wide-ranging research interests ranged from the development of new radionuclides to the identification, optimization and radiolabeling of chemical lead structures against clinically relevant markers for the diagnosis and treatment of cancer and diseases of the central nervous system. There is no question that the radiopharmaceutical sciences in Switzerland, including clinical research in nuclear medicine, would not have achieved the recognition they enjoy today without his ambition and perseverance. He developed an intensive, long-lasting and intense academic and industrial network and was always a valued member of professional committees thanks to his expertise and vision.

August Schubiger was the second president and namesake of the "Society of Radiopharmaceutical Sciences” (SRS). He was a co-founder of the German-speaking Working Group for Radiochemistry and Radiopharmacy (AGRR) and played a key role in the establishment of a Certificate of Advanced Studies (certified by the European Association of Nuclear Medicine, EANM) in Radiopharmaceutical Chemistry and Pharmacy at ETH Zurich in collaboration with the Universities of Frankfurt (later Leipzig) and Ljubljana. Beyond his professional achievements, August was a dedicated member and elected Fellow of the Collegium Helveticum.

Gusti’s contribution extends beyond research and teaching and has shaped the careers of many young researchers. With his commitment, his keen sense for the people he worked with and his tireless dedication to the field, he will remain in our indelible memory.
He leaves behind a loving family and a community of friends, colleagues and students who continue to be inspired by his life's work.