At-211 Partnership Agreement for University Isotope Production Finalized

The U.S. Department of Energy’s Isotope Program is pleased to announce the finalization of a partnership with the University of Washington’s (UW) Department of Radiation Oncology located at the UW Medical Center in Seattle, Washington.  Finalized on April 29th, the partnership allows UW to supply astatine-211 (At-211) for pre-clinical research through the National Isotope Development Center’s (NIDC) Isotope Business Office (IBO). Operating on a weekly production schedule, the department’s Medical Cyclotron Facility in conjunction with the Division of Radiochemistry processing laboratories and technical staff are able to provide regional distribution of highly pure At-211 to western states. Greater distances will result in increased decay during transit, but are possible. Addressing a recommendation in the NSAC-I 2015 Long-Range Plan, the partnership with UW marks the first of many such agreements necessary to create a network of university-based isotope production centers capable of nationally providing short-lived radionuclides like At-211.

Orders for At-211 may be placed using the NIDC’s online catalog. If you are interested in further information, please contact Karen Sikes, Associate Director for Production Planning and Market Research, NIDC.