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  • SCK CEN - BR2 - laagverrijkte targets voor productie medische radio-isotopen (2023)
    31 May '23

    Only low-enriched uranium left as base material for production of medical radioisotopes

    SCK CEN lives up to promises of international summit in The Hague

    The medical sector has always been able to rely on the nuclear research centre SCK CEN. It produces sorely needed medical radioisotopes in its BR2 research reactor, including molybdenum-99 and iodine-131. The former can be used to detect cancer and cardiovascular diseases. The latter, radioactive iodine, is in turn used to fight thyroid cancer. Both radioisotopes are created by irradiating uranium targets – tubes about 16 centimetres long. After 51 years, SCK CEN is switching completely to low-enriched uranium as base material. "Nothing changes for the patient or doctor, but it does for the world," said Steven Van Dyck, BR2 director. And he means that from a non-proliferation perspective. Since highly enriched uranium is no longer used in the production of these medical radioisotopes, that nips a potential spread of it in the bud.

  • SCK CEN - SpectronRx (2023)
    26 May '23

    The United States and Belgium partner to accelerate the fight against cancer

    SpectronRx will open its first European facility on SCK CEN’s premises

    US-Based SpectronRx will open its first European radiolabeling facility for sorely needed medical radioisotopes. This facility will be established on the premises of the Belgian Nuclear Research Center SCK CEN in Mol, Belgium. It will be operational in 2024 and will focus on actinium-225. This promising therapeutic radioisotope shows great potential in the treatment of cancer.

  • SCK CEN - BR2 - laagverrijkte splijtstofstaven (2023)
    31 March '23

    Low-enriched test fuel assemblies passed with flying colors!

    Last Friday, March 24, the nuclear researchers of SCK CEN watched with wide eyes and bated breath as the BR2 research reactor was unloaded. Three low-enriched uranium test fuel elements emerged from the reactor core, where they had been for the last 60 days. They served as fuel for the Belgian research reactor for the first time. And they did it with brilliance. This is evidenced by today's positive results.