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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.

  • 2022_GebouwCRF
    09 January '23

    New pilot production for targeted cancer treatments

    SCK CEN wants to build a new production facility for medical radioisotopes. The construction of the CRF building marks another important step in the fight against cancer.

    From 5 January 2023 until 3 February 2023 (included), a public enquiry will take place for the construction of the new project.  Everyone can read the file - including the ambition and technical plans - at Mol town hall.