What goes around: cyclotron opens in Sydney

The latest piece of high technology equipment to accelerate biomedical research was officially launched in Sydney today at the opening of the National Imaging Facility (NIF) Research Cyclotron.

The NIF is a collaboration between the University of Sydney and the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO) and is based in Camperdown near the University of Sydney’s Brain and Mind Research Institute (BMRI).

The $25 million facility is features three main attractions. The first is the 18 MeV cyclotron for the production of the radioisotopes fluorine-18 and carbon-11 for molecular imaging.

Second is an advanced radiolabelling facility for the development of molecular probes to measure the properties of proteins and molecules in the body.

Third is a state of the art biomedical imaging laboratory along with advanced imaging analysis and modelling, including PET, PET/CT and PET/SPECT/CT scanners, autoradiography, radiometabolite analysis and tissue counting facilities.

As a node of the National Imaging Facility, the centre will be accessible to researchers from around Australia.

The facility has received investment from the Australian Government, ANSTO, the University of Sydney and the NSW Government’s National Collaborative Research Infrastructure Strategy.

It was opened by Professor Marie Bashir AC CVO, Governor of New South Wales today in Camperdown.