NIDC News

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The Department of Energy’s Office of Isotope R&D and Production (IRP), within the Office of Science, invites you to take part in virtual “one-on-one” stakeholder meetings on Oct. 14, Oct. 16, and Oct. 21, 2025.
DOE Office of Isotope R&D and Production and ORNL staff gather for a group photo at the Stable Isotope Production and Research Center (SIPRC) construction site during a tour.
The $325 million SIPRC project, slated for completion in Spring 2027, will establish the capability to produce stable isotopes on a large scale.
Participants of the HIPPO Conference with Christopher Landers, Director of the Office of Isotope R&D and Production, and Ethan Balkin, Program Manager for Radioisotope R&D and Acting Program Manager for Accelerator Isotope Facilities
Student trainees take part in experiences in the research, development, and processing activities that support the nation's radioisotope supply. This year, the program supported 24 undergraduate and graduate students from 13 institutions across the U.S.

DOE Isotope Program Highlights

Steps in terbium-161 (Tb-161) production. The University of Utah TRIGA reactor induces thermal neutron capture on gadolinium-160 (Gd-160), which decays to Tb-161. Separating the Gd-160 target yields high-purity Tb-161 for cancer therapy and diagnosis. Graphic courtesy of Connor Holiski.

To Advance Cancer Therapy, University Starts Producing Terbium-161

In this study, researchers from the University of Utah, in collaboration with the University of Missouri, produced Tb-161 using the University of Utah’s TRIGA research reactors.
Improvements to Americium-241 processing can increase yield, decrease the amount of waste generated, and reduce the radiological dose workers receive. Image courtesy of Brittany St. Jacques, Los Alamos National Laboratory

Improving Large-Scale Domestic Production of Americium-241, a Critical Component in Smoke Detectors and Nuclear Batteries

Researchers explore the effects of radiation and harsh chemicals to optimize americium-241 production.
Image courtesy of Jon Burns, University of Alabama at Birmingham Schematic of the astatine-ketone bond breaking to release free astatine-211.

Astatine Paving the Way for a New Era in Cancer Radiopharmaceuticals

Researchers gain new insights into a strong bond between At-211 and common chemicals, creating new possibilities for cancer treatment
Image courtesy of Chris Orosco/ORNL, U.S. Dept. of Energy Artists’ depiction of a new potential cancer treatment vehicle—an engineered nanometer-size construct that holds a radioactive isotope that can be delivered to destroy cancer cells.

Killing Cancer with Radioactive Nanocrystals

The Department of Energy Isotope Program (DOE IP) continues to enable groundbreaking developments in cancer research through the provision of medically relevant isotopes.