Access to medical isotopes

Locally produced medical isotopes will be available for Australian researchers and clinicians to use in preclinical and early-stage cancer research thanks to a new collaborative arrangement between Sydney-based Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO), Austin Health/Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research in Melbourne and Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital in Perth.

The organisations will work together to enable the production and use of positron emission tomography (PET) isotopes, which previously had to be imported. Initially, copper-64 (Cu-64); zirconium-89 (Zr-89) and iodine-124 (I-124) will be produced, with yttrium-86 (Y-86) to follow.

PET uses these short-lived radio isotopes in combination with gamma rays and a highly sensitive scanner to produce a non-invasive 3D image of a subject. This type of imaging enables quantification of biochemical and/or physiological functions enabling early functional changes caused by disease to be detected.

The provision of additional facilities and reliable access to the isotopes provides the potential to advance research in therapy management, new nuclear imaging techniques and eventually treatment.

ANSTO has developed a Collaborative Project Management tool to ensure availability of the isotopes for research is on a scientific, merit selection basis, through a fair and transparent process.

Applications are now open with closing date of 28 February 2014 for the first allocation.