A coalition of researchers, including scientists from London, says it's now feasible to produce quantities of a certain isotope on a commercial scale.
A cyclotron like the one used at St. Joseph's hospital in London produce technisium 99 – an isotope used for medical diagnosis. Dr. Michael Kovacs is part of a team that's been researching the use of cyclotrons to produce these isotopes on a large scale.
The need for alternative isotope production was made evident during shutdowns of the chalk river nuclear reactor a major world source of medical isotopes.
The TC-99 isotopes would be an important addition to those produced through nuclear technology.
The next step involves clinical trials of the isotopes in advance of regulatory approval.
